April 13, 2016

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – South Carolina junior designated player Victoria Williams blasted a solo home run, providing all the Gamecocks (31-10) needed in a 1-0 shutout win at USC Upstate (32-12) on Wednesday evening.

Williams hit a 1-0 pitch in the second over the wall in right center for her second home run of the season. That proved to be enough support for the Gamecock pitchers, as juniors Jessica Elliott (16-2) and Nickie Blue combined for the four-hit blanking of the Spartans.

Elliott scattered three hits and three walks in her four innings, fanning thre, while Blue gave up a leadoff single when entering in the fifth before retiring nine straight for her fifth save of the year.

USC Upstate starter Lexi Shubert (5-4) took the tough-luck loss, allowing the one earned run on six hits while posting five strikeouts.

Game Changer:
Williams’ blast pushed the Gamecocks to the win.

Key Stat:
South Carolina posted its 10th shutout of the year.

Notables:
• Williams went 2-for-3 to lead South Carolina.
• Alexis Mack, Kennedy Clark, Kamryn Watts and Ansley Ard had the other Gamecock hits.
• Jordan Bizzell was one of three Gamecocks to be hit, the 10th time she’s been plunked in 2016.
• Ansley Gilstrap went 2-for-3 for the Spartans, while Brittany Case and Ryan Rector also had hits.

Tweet of the Game:

T2 | V. Williams SENDS ONE OUT! 1-0 #Gamecocks at USC Upstate, one down.

— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) April 13, 2016

Up Next:
South Carolina hosts the Rebels of the University of Mississippi for a three-game series this weekend. First pitch for Friday’s contests is set for 6 p.m. EDT.