Feb. 26, 2016
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – South Carolina (10-2) bounced back in Friday’s second game in a big way, trouncing Southern Utah (3-10) by a score of 21-4 in five innings in the Gaucho Classic at the Campus Diamond.
Gamecock senior Alaynie Page led the offense with a 4-for-5 day, driving in four and scoring three. She was one of four Gamecocks to score three runs and double, with junior Taylor Williams also adding four RBI as part of that group. Junior Kaylea Snaer and senior Lauren Masters also had a double and three runs scored. Sophomore Jordyn Augustus went 1-for-2 with two RBI, while junior Macey Webb drove in three runs.
South Carolina batted around in each of the first three innings. Williams hit the big blow in the seven-run first, knocking a bases-loaded double that scored Masters, Snaer and freshman Kennedy Clark, who drew two walks alongside Masters. Five more runs crossed in the second, led by Page’s RBI triple. Both Webb and Augustus had two RBI in the third inning, with Augustus’ single capping the eight-run frame.
Southern Utah scored one in the third on a bases-loaded walk to Kendall Kapitzky, while three Thunderbirds came home in the fourth with two outs on a hit-by-pitch and two wild pitches. The Gamecocks got one run back in the fifth on Masters’ RBI double.
Gamecock senior Ansley Ard (1-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless inning of relief, her first collegiate appearance in the circle. She struck out one. Starter Jessica Elliott tossed two scoreless innings, fanning three. Kirsten Hostetler (1-3) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on six hits and two walks in one inning of work.
Game Changer:
The Gamecocks came out full throttle and pushed through with 20 runs in the first three innings.
Key Stat:
South Carolina scored 20 for the first time since posting a 29-0 win over Alabama State on March 2, 2013.
Notables:
• The 17 Gamecock hits is the most since putting up 17 in the Delaware State win last year on Feb. 7.
• The seven walks drawn by the Gamecocks are the most since getting eight at UNC Wilmington on March 31, 2015.
• Only one Gamecock went down on strikes in the contest.
• Page fell a home run short of a cycle.
• Thunderbird Peyton Hart scored twice and drew three walks, while Morgan Leonard and Kapitzky both walked twice.
• Kylee Wolf had two of the Thunderbirds’ hits, with Kapitzky getting the other.
Tweet of the Game:
That @GamecockSoftbll game looking like a Basketball score.
— IdolKnights (@idolknights) February 26, 2016
Up Next:
The Gamecocks take on the Gauchos of UCSB and the Thunderbirds again on Saturday in the Gaucho Classic. South Carolina faces UC Santa Barbara at 11:30 a.m. EST before taking on Southern Utah in the second game of the day 30 minutes after the first.
