Oh Earns First Win In Victory Over Charlotte
Feb. 14, 2018
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –South Carolina softball jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through two innings to spoil the new stadium presentation at Charlotte in a 5-1 win over the 49ers on Wednesday. Freshman Kelsey Oh pitched her first career complete-game as she earned her first win of 2018.
The Gamecocks improved to 5-1 on the young season with the win over the 49ers heading into the team’s home opener this Friday against Michigan State.
“I was really proud of Kelsey Oh for throwing her first career complete-game,” head coach Beverly Smith said. “For a freshman she showed a lot of composure in the circle. She had a lot of strikeouts. She got us some key outs in some key situations.
The Gamecocks scored four runs in the first thanks to an Alyssa Kumiyama RBI single to give Carolina a 1-0 lead. Cayla Drotar later extended the lead in the inning with a three-run blast to centerfield to make it 4-0 Gamecocks after one.
The scoring continued in the second as Mackenzie Boesel doubled to left center, scoring Kenzi Maguire to make it 5-0 Carolina.
From there, Oh (1-1) took over in the circle. The freshman didn’t allow a run until the sixth as the 49ers scored one in both of the final innings to make a comeback effort that failed at the hands of Oh. She finished with nine strikeouts while allowing just four hits. Both runs were unearned.
Drotar led the way at the plate for the Gamecocks, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Boesel, Kumiyama, and Jana Johns also contributed with hits.
NOTES —
The Gamecocks have scored at least one run in all six games this season. Dating back to last season, Carolina has done so in seven of its last eight games.
Head coach Beverly Smith improved to 233-179 with the win. She is the second-winningest coach in school history.
With the win over Charlotte, freshman pitcher Kelsey Oh earned her first career victory and first career complete-game. This marked Carolina’s third complete game of the season.
Cayla Drotar came into the 2018 season missing one thing on the offensive side: a home run. Through six games, the sophomore has two on the young season.
Eight different Gamecocks, seven freshmen, have made their Carolina debut thus far through six games.
UP NEXT —
Carolina returns home for the first time in 2018 as it plays host to the Gamecock Invitational, starting at 5:00 PM ET against Michigan State. Live stats and updates will be provided on Twitter.
