Feb. 28, 2016
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Behind a dominant pitching performance, South Carolina (13-2) beat Georgia Tech (2-9) by a score of 3-1 in the teams’ finale in the Gaucho Classic I at the Campus Diamond.
Gamecock pitching allowed only one hit to the Yellow Jackets in the victory, a two-out solo home run to Samantha Pierannunzi. Outside of that, juniors Jessica Elliott and Nickie Blue shut down the opposition, with Elliott picking up her ninth victory in the start, striking out six in five innings of work. Blue tossed two perfect innings, fanning two, for her fourth save of the season.
South Carolina scored in the first on sophomore shortstop Krystan White’s sacrifice fly, scoring senior left fielder Alaynie Page after she singled to start the frame. Page came home with the game-winning run two innings later on freshman right fielder Kennedy Clark’s single off the Yellow Jackets’ third baseman’s glove.
The insurance run came home for South Carolina when, with the bases loaded and two outs, a wild pitch on a third strike let Clark score from third.
Game Changer:
Elliott’s command in the circle held down Georgia Tech’s offense, and she preyed on over aggressiveness in the second when she used only five pitches to retire the side in order.
Key Stat:
Elliott and Blue combined for their second one-hitter of the year, after earlier holding North Carolina to one hit in that win.
Notables:
• Page and Clark both had two hits, with Page scoring twice and Clark scoring one while driving in one.
• Page also had a stolen base, tying her for sixth in Gamecock history with 41 career swipes.
• Senior centerfielder Ansley Ard tripled in a 1-for-3 day.
Up Next:
South Carolina returns home for a 15-game home stand, which opens on Tuesday with a single game against Western Carolina. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
