Feb. 13, 2016
TAMPA, Fla. – South Carolina’s pitching staff shut down Virginia Tech (1-1), and the Gamecock offense, led by junior first baseman Kaylea Snaer, stepped up in a 6-0 blanking of the Hokies on Saturday morning at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Gamecocks (2-1) got on the board early thanks to freshman right fielder Kennedy Clark’s first career home run in the first. Later in the inning, Snaer hit the first of her two doubles, driving home freshman shortstop Kenzi Maguire, to make it 2-0.
Snaer’s second double made it 4-0 in the third, as she drove in Maguire and junior designated player Victoria Williams. The Gamecocks added runs in the fifth and the sixth. Williams doubled home Clark in the fifth, while freshman second baseman Alexis Mack plated sophomore Tiara Duffy with an infield single in the sixth, the first RBI for Mack in her first career start.
Gamecock pitching held the Hokies to four hits, two each allowed by starter Jessica Elliott (2-0) and reliever Nickie Blue. Elliott fanned three in her second start and win, while Blue struck out one in the three-inning save. Virginia Tech’s Maggie Tyler (0-1) gave up six runs, four earned, on nine hits and four walks.
Freshman Lex Hull picked up her first career hit in a pinch-hitting appearance in the seventh.
Game Changer:
Clark’s home run set the tone for the Gamecocks, while Snaer’s doubles put the game out of reach early.
Key Stat:
Clark, batting second, reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored while reaching on an error.
Notables:
• Clark and Snaer both had two hits, while Clark and Maguire both scored twice.
• Both Duffy and Hull got hits in pinch-hitting spots.
• VT’s Lauren Duff led the Hokies with a 2-for-3 day.
Tweet of the Game:
Let’s go @GamecockSoftbll!!! Can’t wait to watch them in person next weekend!
— Austin Solheim (@ajsolheim) February 13, 2016
Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
The team put together a complete game. Kaylea was big for us, with three RBI and clutch hits. I was really proud of Kennedy Clark, hitting her first home run as a freshman. I thought we did a nice job of putting pressure on their defense every inning. I’m particularly pleased with our pitching, because we held down a very good Virginia Tech offense. For Jessica and Nickie to combine for a shutout was excellent today.
Up Next:
South Carolina closes its stay in the USF Wilson Demarini Tournament on Sunday with an 11:15 a.m. game against Illinois State.
