Two Seventh-Inning Homers Not Enough in 5-4 Loss at No. 4/3 Tennessee
March 22, 2014
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – South Carolina hit two seventh-inning solo home runs in a comeback bid on Saturday afternoon, but No. 4/3 Tennessee made its five-run first stand up, taking a 5-4 win on Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (27-3, 4-1 SEC) ran out to a 5-0 lead after one inning of play. Sending 10 batters to the plate in the frame, the Lady Vols scored on Melissa Davin’s RBI double, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Hannah Akamine and a two-RBI single by Cheyanne Tarango. On Tarango’s hit, the relay throw to third went over the Gamecock third baseman’s head, letting Taylor Koenig score as well.
South Carolina (17-11, 2-6 SEC) got a run back in the second when redshirt junior pitcher Julie Sarratt plated senior pinch runner Brooke Barnhill with an RBI single. It would be in the sixth before the Gamecocks struck again, this time with freshman first baseman Kaylea Snaer doubling home senior Ashlyn Masters after she singled to right to start the inning. With two runners in scoring position, Tennessee brought in its ace Ellen Renfroe, and she got two outs to shortstop to end the threat.
The Gamecocks hit two solo homers in the seventh, one by sophomore left fielder Alaynie Page and the other by Masters, to draw within one. But Renfroe induced a final ground ball to end the game.
Erin Gabriel (5-0) garnered the win for Tennessee, tossing three-plus innings of relief, allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out one. Renfroe tallied her third save, giving up two earned runs in 1.2 innings of action. She struck out two. Sarratt (7-6) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on eight hits and four walks. She fanned two over her six innings.
Madison Shipman went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases for the Lady Vols, while Davin drove in one in a 2-for-4 day. South Carolina’s Snaer and senior Dana Hathorn had doubles, Snaer’s driving in a run in her 2-for-3 day. Masters also had two hits including her second homer of the year, while Page added a home run as well.
The two teams wrap the series on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. EDT, with ESPNU providing television coverage nationally.
