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Feb. 21, 2016

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind solid pitching from junior Nickie Blue and timely hitting from freshman Kennedy Clark, South Carolina (7-1) downed Longwood (2-2) 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in the Carolina Classic at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

The Gamecocks wasted little time getting on the board, as Clark’s first-inning single scored fellow freshman Kenzi Maguire after she reached first on a fielder’s choice, and advanced to second on an error by the third baseman. South Carolina added an insurance run in the fifth on another Clark RBI single, scoring senior Alaynie Page who was hit by a pitch. After reaching first, Page stole second and took third after an errant throw, setting up Clark’s hit.

Starting pitcher Blue (3-1) tossed her first shutout of the year, scattering eight hits while striking out six. She stranded 10 Lancer runners in the contest, including runners at third to end the first, fourth and fifth. In the fifth, she collected two strikeouts to strand the runner at third. A double play in the sixth stopped Longwood from capitalizing on a bases-loaded, one-out situation. In the seventh, she also escaped a bases-loaded situation with two outs, getting a grounder to second.

Longwood starter Elizabeth McCarthy (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work. South Carolina left nine runners on in the contest as well.

Game Changer:
Blue’s calm demeanor and toughness under pressure kept the Gamecocks composed, helping them out of jams.

Key Stat:
Clark’s two RBI singles provided the margin.

Notables:
• Page had a hit, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.
• Two other Gamecocks had hits and stolen bases: seniors Ansley Ard and Jordan Bizzell.
• Three Lancers had two hits: Emily Murphy, Kaylynn Batten and Jamie Barbour.
• Batten and Barbour both had doubles.

Tweet of the Game:

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