Gamecocks See Season End in 2-1 Loss at No. 7/7 Florida State
May 22, 2016
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – South Carolina (38-23) held the lead through five and a half innings but could not hold back No. 7/7 Florida State (51-8), as the Seminoles claimed a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Field.
Junior first baseman Kaylea Snaer led off the fourth with her 27th double of the year, hitting a foot below the top of the wall in left center. A wild pitch put sophomore pinch runner Jordyn Augustus to third, and junior designated player Victoria Williams brought her home with a sacrifice fly to put the Gamecocks on the board.
Florida State came back in the sixth with two runs. Morgan Klaevemann drew a leadoff walk, and Ellie Cooper followed with a single. A fielder’s choice made it runners at the corners with one down, setting up Alex Power’s game-tying RBI single to right. Sydney Broderick followed with a single that fell between the fielders in left center, scoring Jessica Warren to put the Seminoles in the lead.
Seminole starter Meghan King (24-3) posted a complete-game win, scattering six hits while giving up the one earned run. She struck out three. Gamecock junior Jessica Elliott (18-10) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks in two innings of work.
The Seminoles advance into the Super Regional round, hosting the winner of the Lexington Regional.
Game Changer:
The Seminoles chipped away in the sixth, with a leadoff walk starting the rally.
Key Stat:
Snaer’s double ties her with five others with 27 in a season in NCAA Division I, which ranks fourth in a single season.
Notables:
• Snaer went 2-for-3 with the double, while four other Gamecocks (Alaynie Page, Krystan White, Kenzi Maguire and Kamryn Watts) added hits.
• Gamecock starter Nickie Blue pitched a terrific first four innings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out two.
• Four Seminoles had hits, including Warren’s double. Cooper, Powers and Broderick all had singles.
• The Gamecocks fall to 33-6 when out-hitting its opposition in 2016.
Tweet of the Game:
Would like to take this time to say thanks to @scsbcoach_bev @GamecockSoftbll and staff for an awesome season full of lots of thrills.
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) May 22, 2016
Quotable
Head coach Beverly Smith
First of all thank you to Florida State for a well-run tournament. We appreciate all of your hard work; you’ve got a lot of people here working hard. What a game. I think both of our games against Florida State were great softball games, and I love the way my team competed today. Unfortunately we came out on the short end, but I am certainly proud of our effort, and certainly proud of our four seniors up here with me today. They don’t know anything but postseason, and I’m just proud of everything they’ve done for our program, the examples they’ve set and the expectations they have left for the program.
On building the lead early on
Our team was really attacking all day at the plate. We had some well-hit, hard-hit balls. Absolutely we were trying to pour it on if we could.
On switching the pitchers
Nickie (Blue) did a great job and Jessica Elliot came in, and I certainly thought it was going to be a good change of pace to mix up their hitters. I just thought it would be enough to keep them off balance.
On how SEC prepares for postseason:
Playing through the league absolutely prepares you for postseason. There was not a pitcher or hitter here that we weren’t prepared to face. I think that’s why the players pick the SEC, to play on the big stage, to be on TV, and to have those types of games. Every single game for us feels like that last one right there, the intensity and the competiveness is just like a championship Sunday every day.
Senior left fielder Alaynie Page
On hitting against FSU pitcher Meghan King:
We were prepared for both (pitchers) before the game, and when we were told King we were like, `OK.’ I personally saw her well yesterday, I was just making a few adjustments that I needed to make to get that hit. It was a process. My third at-bat, I finally got the hit and it worked out.
On playing for South Carolina:
Really it’s not about me, it’s about our program. I told Coach Bev (when) getting recruited that I was going to make a statement at this program, and I want to get our program back where it needs to be, back where we were at the top. I think we are making our way towards that, and, you know, it’s been a blessing to watch this team grow. But it truly is all about South Carolina.
Senior right fielder Ansley Ard
On South Carolina’s defense:
Our coaches prepare us for everything, and they prepare us for all kind of plays. Our outfield works really hard with our infield. I believe we have one of the strongest defenses in the country. We’re prepared for any kind of hit, and they do a great job at preparing us for that.
On being a senior:
I think that one word that describes South Carolina to me is family. You know, walking away from here I’m walking away with sisters, not just teammates. I’ve got three best friends sitting right here and a mom that will do anything for me. That’s just what South Carolina means to me, is family.
Senior catcher Jordan Bizzell
On playing catcher for her senior season:
Catching has always been where my heart is, and it’s really been a joy to be back behind the plate this year. As far as those plays at the plate go, I’m just trying to make sure that I’m covering the plate so that she can’t get in there and I’m going to do whatever I can so that she is not able to.
On what she will take away from her career:
It’s truly been a blessing. I hope that I left a legacy that shows that anyone can come out there and do anything any given day. I was put at third, I’ve been put at second, I’ve been on the bench, I’ve been put behind the plate and I mean you’ve just got to want it. And I hope that with me playing I can show girls that if they want it bad enough they can go out there and get it.
Senior infielder Lauren Masters
On playing her final season with the South Carolina Gamecocks:
I think that our mascot says it all. The Gamecock fights until it dies, and the fight that this team has had all four years has been unlike any other team I’ve ever played on. I think we were instilled that from day one that we stepped on campus from our seniors that year to the coaches. It is just truly special to be a Gamecock.
