March 6, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (18-2) picked up a 10-1 (6) victory against Kennesaw State to claim the Gamecock Invitational title on Sunday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
South Carolina answered Kennesaw State’s run in the top of the third with three of its own. Freshman right fielder Kennedy Clark hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded to drive home two, and freshman shortstop Kenzi Maguire scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
The Gamecocks made it an 8-1 game in the fourth. Senior left fielder Alaynie Page brought home the first run with a fielder’s choice, while freshman second baseman Alexis Mack followed with an RBI single. Clark plated another with an RBI single, while junior first baseman Kaylea Snaer sent home two more with her hit to left. Page ended things in the sixth with a home run, also scoring senior centerfielder Ansley Ard after she reached on an error.
Junior pitcher Jessica Elliott (11-0) kept her record perfect with four innings of work, giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks. Owl Logan Viers (5-1) took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Game Changer:
Clark’s bases-loaded single in the third put the Gamecocks on top for good.
Key Stat:
All nine Gamecock starters reached base safely, eight tallying hits.
Notables:
• Freshmen Mack and Clark both went 3-for-3 to lead the Gamecocks. Mack scored twice and drove in a run, while Clark scored once and drove in three.
• Page scored twice, drove in three and had the home run in a 2-for-4 day.
• Snaer also tallied two RBI, while Maguire had two runs scored.
• The lone Owl run scored in the third on Courtney Sutter’s single, scoring Taylor Denton, who had the other KSU hit.
Tweet of the Game:
Great day for some @GamecockSoftbll. #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/yLEY48waAy
— Carrie Niemiec (@carrieEPRN) March 6, 2016
Up Next:
South Carolina has its final tune-up before entering Southeastern Conference play on Tuesday against SIU Edwardsville. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. EST at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
