April 18, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Gamecock junior left fielder Alaynie Page hit the game-winning homer and turned the game-ending double play in the 11th, as South Carolina (31-17, 6-12 SEC) took a 7-6 win in Saturday’s second game at No. 14/16 Kentucky.
Page drove a 1-0 pitch off the scoreboard in left field, breaking a 6-6 tie. The Wildcats (28-16, 5-13 SEC) threatened in the bottom of the 11th, with two walks starting the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved them both into scoring position, with Breanne Ray at the plate. She lined one into shallow left that Page charged and caught. Seeing the runner at second far off the bag, Page threw behind her and doubled her off, ending the game with the Gamecocks on top.
After Kentucky posted three runs in the first on Maisie Steed’s two-out, three-run home run, South Carolina answered with four in the second with two outs. After a double play took the leadoff double off third, junior right fielder Ansley Ard reached on an error, letting sophomore pinch runner Kate Shereyk score from third. A walk to junior left fielder Alaynie Page set up senior centerfielder Kristen Struett’s triple to right, scoring both runners to tie the game. Sophomore Victoria Williams handed the Gamecocks the 4-3 lead with a single.
The Wildcats tied it again in the bottom of the third on Griffin Joiner’s double to right, scoring Sylver Samuel. They took the 5-4 lead on Kara Howard’s single through the right side with two outs in the fourth. South Carolina retook the lead, 6-5, with three-consecutive doubles by Williams, sophomore first baseman Kaylea Snaer and redshirt sophomore second baseman Lauren Masters in the fifth.
Kentucky tied thing again in the sixth on Stokes’ third double of the game, scoring pinch runner Brooklin Hinz, who replaced Rachael Metzger after her leadoff single to right.
Gamecock sophomore Nickie Blue (16-7) picked up the win in relief, tossing eight innings and giving up two earned runs on eight hits and four walks. Kentucky’s Kelsey Nunley (11-11) picked up the loss, tallying eight innings combined, allowing five runs, one earned, on 11 hits and a walk. She struck out 11.
Game Changer:
Page had a huge impact in the game, going 3-for-5 with the game-winning home run as well as the double play to end the game, her only play in left all night.
Key Stat:
South Carolina had seven extra-base hits among its 14 tonight, including five doubles, which is the most for the Gamecocks this season.
Notables:
• Page and Snaer had three hits on the night, while Struett and Williams added two hits each.
• Struett had her third triple of the year, driving in two.
• Stokes went 3-for-4 with three doubles, tying Kentucky’s school record for doubles in a game.
• Joiner went 3-for-4 with a double, a run, an RBI and two walks.
• Samuel and Howard both went 2-for-4, with Samuel scoring twice and also walking twice.
• Twice, one Kentucky hitter was called out for making contact out of the box, while another bunt attempt was ruled to hit a batter out of the box to negate a sacrifice bunt.
• It’s the Gamecocks’ longest game under Beverly Smith. The last 11-inning game came in 2009, with South Carolina beating Mississippi 2-1.
Tweet of the Game:
DOUBLE PLAY TO END IT! Way to take that series in a TOUGH double header! @GamecockSoftbll
— sarah jaynes (@sejaynes) April 19, 2015
Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
To come
Junior left fielder Alaynie Page
To come
Up Next:
South Carolina plays a single game at home on Tuesday, taking on Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
