May 2, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the second-consecutive game, South Carolina (33-19, 9-13 SEC) fell in extra innings, as No. 20/20 Auburn used a two-out, two-RBI single from Austyn West to claim a 5-3 win in eight innings on Friday night at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
Auburn loaded the bases with one out on singles by Kasey Cooper and Madi Gipson around a walk to Morgan Estell and a groundout. Gamecock freshman Nickie Blue struck out the next Tiger hitter, but the catcher West came through with a single through the left side to score two.
Tiger reliever Marcy Harper entered in the bottom of the eighth and got a lineout to short and a strikeout quickly. Gamecock centerfielder Kristen Struett picked up a two-out single, her second hit of the game, and sophomore left fielder Ansley Ard followed with a five-pitch walk to put the tying run on base. However, Harper induced a fly to right to end the game for her first save.
After Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the first on Estell’s RBI single to center, scoring Emily Carosone, South Carolina answered when redshirt freshman third baseman Lauren Masters hit one over the wall near the left-field pole for her third career homer.
The Gamecocks captured the lead in the second with two infield singles. Ard replaced Struett, who walked with one down, at first after her fielder’s choice. Senior designated player Dana Hathorn singled, and Ard rushed to third after Auburn’s right fielder mishandled the ball. Hathorn also took an extra base when the throw escaped the grasp of any Tiger infielder. Senior shortstop Codee Yeske beat out a single to short, scoring Ard, and senior second baseman Ashlyn Masters hit a sinking liner to short that was ruled to be a trap, letting Hathorn score to make it 3-1.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the fifth on Cooper’s round-tripper that hit the netting protecting the scoreboard in right center, a two-run blast that followed Carosone’s double off the wall in left center.
Tiger starter Lexi Davis (19-9) picked up the win, giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits and two walks in seven innings. Blue (16-9) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts in three innings of relief. Redshirt junior Julie Sarratt tossed the first five innings for South Carolina, with three runs scoring on five hits and a walk while she struck out three.
Auburn’s Cooper went 3-for-3 with a homer, two runs and two RBI. Carosone had a double and two runs scored in a 2-for-3 night, while West drove in two with a single.
Seniors Hathorn, Ashlyn Masters and Yeske joined Struett with two-hit days, Struett adding a double and a walk as well. South Carolina dropped its second straight game in extra innings after completing its first 50 games in regulation. The Gamecocks fell to 0-7 on games started on Friday night in SEC play this year.
The two teams continue the series on Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT.
