South Carolina Falls to No. 19/20 Minnesota 11-4
Feb. 28, 2014
TEMPE, Ariz. – South Carolina made designs on a comeback bid after falling down early to No. 19/20 Minnesota, but the Golden Gophers (14-1) ended the contest with an 11-4 win over the Gamecocks (14-3) on Friday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
The Golden Gophers posted seven runs in the second. Loading the bases with no one out, Minnesota scored its first run on a fielder’s choice when the Gamecocks couldn’t get the force at the plate on a grounder. Back-to-back RBI singles by Paige Palkovich and Sydney Fabian chased Gamecock freshman starter Nickie Blue. Junior reliever Lakyn Shull got a fly to center that brought home the fourth run in the frame before inducing a groundout for the second out of the frame. A single by Kaitlyn Richardson scored two more, and Richardson crossed when Sara Groenewegen doubled her home, making it 7-0.
South Carolina got two runs back in both the third and fifth. Senior shortstop Codee Yeske doubled to start the third, moved to third on a strikeout and scored when junior centerfielder Kristen Struett hit one to the wall in center that the Golden Gophers dropped, letting Struett reach third. Snaer’s fly ball allowed Struett score to make it 7-2.
In the fifth, two-out singles by pinch hitter Lauren Masters and left fielder Ansley Ard scored pinch runners Brooke Barnhill and Taylor Williams after the duo both moved up in Masters’ at-bat on a wild pitch. Freshman first baseman Kaylea Snaer and freshman designated player Victoria Williams recorded the hits that gave the pinch runners the opportunity to score.
A three-run sixth put Minnesota back in control. With two down, singles by Hannah Granger and Erica Meyer preceded a walk to Richardson, loading the bases. Groenewegen doubled home two, and Bree Blanchette singled home the final run of the frame. Taylor LeMay led off the seventh with a solo home run to put Minnesota back up by seven, 11-4.
Minnesota starter Sara Moulton (9-1) picked up the victory, giving up four runs, three earned, on nine hits in five innings. She struck out six. Blue (9-2) took the loss, allowing six runs, three earned, on three hits and a walk in an inning-plus of work. Shull pitched well, striking out a South Carolina high six batters in six innings.
Groenewegen led Minnesota’s offense, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Richardson drove in two as well as scoring twice in a 1-for-2 day. All 10 Gophers who got an at bat had hits.
The seniors Hathorn and Yeske both had two hits and a double each. Seven other Gamecocks had one hit each.
