Blue Shuts Down North Dakota State in 1-0 South Carolina Win

Feb. 25, 2017

Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Another shutout effort in the circle, this one solely from senior Nickie Blue, led South Carolina (10-2) to a 1-0 win over North Dakota State (3-10) on Saturday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

Blue (5-0) tossed her second solo shutout of the season, striking out seven while scattering three hits and two walks.

After driving in the game-winning run in Friday’s win, junior Jordyn Augustus scored the deciding and only run in the fifth. With one out, she dropped down a bunt and beat it out for the infield hit and promptly stole second. After a pop out, freshman Mackenzie Boesel stepped up and brought home Augustus with a single to right.

Bison starter Jacquelyn Sertic (2-8) took another one-run loss, giving up the one earned run on five hits.

GAME CHANGER

Blue pitched another outstanding game and worked through jams in the third and fourth, including a bases-loaded situation after a leadoff double in the third.

KEY STAT

The Gamecocks, for the second-straight day, shut out the Bison, this time only working around one error that came in the seventh. The defense followed that with a double play that ended the game.

NOTABLES

Junior Alyssa VanDerveer posted two doubles for the first time in her collegiate career, going 2-for-3 on the day.

Blue’s shutout ties her for eighth in program history with 14, joining Melissa Hendon (2007-08) on the charts.

NDSU’s Julia Luciano reached base three times, posting two hits and reaching on an error.