Despite Three Home Runs, Gamecocks Fall at North Carolina 7-3
Feb. 22, 2017
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite hitting three home runs, two by junior Alyssa VanDerveer, South Carolina (8-2) dropped a 7-3 contest at North Carolina (7-4) on Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Stadium.
The Tar Heels claimed a 1-0 lead on Katie Bailiff’s double, scoring pinch runner Micaela Abbatine in the second. The Gamecocks responded with two solo homers in the third, first from freshman Mackenzie Boesel leading off the frame before VanDerveer stepped up with one down to hand the Gamecocks the lead. But Bailiff struck again in the bottom of the third with a two-run single, putting North Carolina up for good.
North Carolina added three more in the fifth on Katelyn Shifflett’s two-out home run, plating Kendra Lynch and Taylor Wike. A final insurance run crossed in the sixth on Lynch’s two-out double, which brought home Leah Murray. The Gamecocks tried to respond in the seventh, as VanDerveer hit a one-out home run, but Tar Heel reliever Sydney Matzko closed out her second save with a grounder and fly out.
Brittany Pickett (4-0) claimed the victory with four innings of work, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four. Gamecock freshman Cayla Drotar (2-1) took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks in 2.1 innings.
GAME CHANGER
The two-out home run for Shifflett proved to be the difference.
KEY STAT
The Gamecocks left nine runners on base, including six in scoring position.
NOTABLES
VanDerveer posted her first career two-home run game and her first two homers as a Gamecock.
Joining VanDerveer with two hits for South Carolina were Boesel and junior Kamryn Watts, with Watts adding a stolen base.
Bailiff and Lynch both tallied two hits with a double for North Carolina, while Bailiff and Shifflett boasted of three RBI each.
In addition to getting the win in the circle, Pickett posted two hits as well.
Murray stole two bases for the Tar Heels.
Up Next
South Carolina hosts the Gamecock Invitational this weekend, bringing in North Dakota State and College of Charleston for the three-day event. The Gamecocks and Bison start the weekend with Friday’s lone game, a 3 p.m. start at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. All four South Carolina games will be broadcast on SEC Network + on Watch ESPN.
