Feb. 13, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (5-2) returned to its winning ways in its first game of the Gamecock Invitational, downing Appalachian State 5-0 on Friday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The Gamecocks got all they needed in the fourth, scoring on junior right fielder Ansley Ard’s two-RBI single and junior left fielder Alaynie Page’s double that plated Ard. Page made it a 5-0 South Carolina lead in the sixth with a two-run homer to left.
South Carolina’s pitchers combined for a one-hitter, the first of the season. Sophomore Nickie Blue (3-0) tossed six shutout innings, fanning five while allowing one hit and one walk. Freshman Hayley Copeland pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing two walks in her debut in the Garnet and Black.
Appalachian State (2-4) had Cynthia Gomez tally an infield single to lead off the fourth for the Mountaineers’ only hit. Katherine Johnson (2-4) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings of relief work.
Game Changer:
A four-pitch walk to sophomore first baseman Kaylea Snaer spurred the Gamecock offense in the fourth to its three-run inning.
Key Stat:
Page went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and three RBI to lead South Carolina.
Notables:
• Ard went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Page’s home run in the sixth ties her for 13th on the Gamecocks’ all-time listing with five others. She now has 12 career homers.
• Freshman Tiara Duffy picked up her first Gamecock hit with a pinch-hit single in the fourth.
