Feb. 25, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A sixth-inning grand slam from junior catcher Olivia Lawrence propelled South Carolina (12-2) to a 6-3 victory over Western Carolina (3-7) in Tuesday’s first game at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Lawrence came up with two down and the bases loaded and drove the first pitch she saw over the wall in left center to hand the Gamecocks their only lead of the game. To set up the game-winning blast, sophomore right fielder Ansley Ard singled down the right-field line and moved to second on senior shortstop Codee Yeske’s sacrifice bunt. A dropped pop up put senior designated player Ashlyn Masters on base, and a second Catamount error let sophomore left fielder Alaynie Page reach as well. WCU starter Jordan Garrett (1-4) induced an infield fly before Lawrence connected for the grand slam.
Western Carolina held a 2-0 lead after a half inning thanks to a two-out solo homer by Kara Salvo and back-to-back doubles from Taylor Sigmon and Courtney Price. South Carolina answered with RBI singles from senior second baseman Dana Hathorn and junior centerfielder Kristen Struett in the bottom of the frame, scoring Masters and junior catcher Sarah Mooney, respectively.
The Catamounts regained the lead in the third with a two-out single from Price, scoring Karley Harkey after she reached on a one-out walk that ended Gamecock junior Lakyn Shull’s day.
Freshman Nickie Blue (8-1) came in and shut down Western Carolina, scattering three hits over 4.2 innings of relief for the win. She struck out four without walking anyone. Garrett took the loss, giving up six runs, two earned, on nine hits and three walks while fanning nine.
Hathorn stood as the only Gamecock with multiple hits, getting three including a double, while six of her teammates all had one. Masters scored twice, while Struett added a stolen base to her one-hit, one-RBI outing.
Salvo went 3-for-3 with the homer, and Price went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
