Feb. 8, 2015
A nine-run third pushed South Carolina (4-0) to a 10-0 win in five innings over Longwood (2-3) in the Gamecocks’ first game on Sunday in the Pirate Classic.
Junior third baseman Jordan Bizzell hit a solo home run in the second to put the Gamecocks ahead 1-0.
A nine-run third followed, with the first eight Gamecocks reaching base. RBI singles by redshirt sophomore second baseman Lauren Masters and senior catcher Sarah Mooney started the scoring, while sophomore pinch runner Kate Shereyk scored on a wild pitch. With two runners still on base, sophomore designated player Victoria Williams put the 2-2 pitch over the wall near the left field foul pole to make it 7-0.
Senior centerfielder Kristen Struett’s single to center greeted the third Lancer pitcher of the inning. After a walk by sophomore pinch hitter Effie Manahan and a single by junior left fielder Alaynie Page came around a strikeout, junior right fielder Ansley Ard drove a pitch to center, plating both runners on the triple. Masters followed with an RBI double, scoring Ard to make it a 10-0 Gamecock lead.
Sophomore Nickie Blue (2-0) picked up the shutout win, allowing two hits in the fourth while fanning five overall. On the second hit. Ard threw out a Lancer runner trying to go first to third.
Longwood sophomore Jenna Carnes (0-1) took the loss, giving up three runs, two earned on a hit and two walks in two-plus innings of work.
