Gamecocks Bounce Back with 7-1 Victory at USF

Feb. 12, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – South Carolina (1-1) picked up a 7-1 win over USF (0-1) to close out the Gamecocks’ opening day at the USF Wilson Demarini Tournament at the USF Softball Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The Gamecocks, who had the leadoff runner on base in every inning, never looked back after junior designated player Victoria Williams hit the first South Carolina home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center. Williams went 2-for-4 in the game.

USF cut the lead to 2-1 on Cassidy Boyle’s two-out RBI double in the second.

South Carolina dominated from there, posting five runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to put the game away. Freshmen Kennedy Clark and Kenzi Maguire drove in the first runs of their Gamecock in the fourth, Clark with a double and Maguire with a single. Senior Jordan Bizzell had a sac fly in the fifth, while Clark and senior Alaynie Page had sac flies in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Junior Jessica Elliott (1-0) picked up the win, tossing four innings, giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Classmate Nickie Blue collected her first save of the year with three shutout innings, striking out three. USF’s Erica Nunn (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in five innings.

Freshman Alexis Mack picked up her first career hit off the bench in the game.

Game Changer:
Williams’ homer put the Gamecocks ahead, and they never looked back.

Key Stat:
South Carolina had its leadoff runner on base in every inning of the victory.

Notables:
â€¢ Clark drove in two in a 1-for-2 outing.
â€¢ Five different Gamecocks drove in runs, three with sacrifice flies.
â€¢ Three different Gamecocks (Jordyn Augustus, Mack and Page) had stolen bases.
â€¢ Two Bulls tallied two hits, Juli Weber and Nunn.

Tweet of the Game:

M5: #Gamecocks add one on Augustus’ aggressive running and Bizzell’s sac fly. 5-1 SC leads USF. #GamecockSB

— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) February 12, 2016