Gamecocks Keep Winning With Pair of Victories Saturday
March 3, 2018
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 20 South Carolina extended its season-long winning streak to 15 games with a pair of wins on the second day of the Carolina Classic at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. Carolina started the day with a 2-0 win over George Washington before closing it with a 5-2 victory against Marshall.
Alyssa VanDerveer led the way at the plate for the Gamecocks between the games, going 2-for-4 with an RBI on the day. Kennedy Clark also shined going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored on a solo home run.
Dixie Raley (5-0) earned the win over George Washington while Kelsey Oh (5-1) picked up the victory against Marshall. On the day the two allowed just a combined two runs and one walk while striking out eight.
“As long as we play defense, pitch the ball well, hit the ball and at least score one or two runs we will continue to be in business,” Kenzi Maguire said on the 15-game winning streak.
George Washington Recap —
Carolina (18-1) started the day with a 2-0 win over George Washington behind Dixie Raley‘s strong pitching performance in the circle. She went the distance, allowing no runs and just five hits while striking out six to lead the Gamecocks to victory.
The Gamecocks started the scoring effort in the first as Jana Johns brought home Kenzi Maguire for RBI No. 22 to start her career to give Carolina an early 1-0 lead after one. The teams traded scoreless frames the next four innings before Kennedy Clark‘s home run in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 2-0 through six.
Clark led the way at the plate for Carolina going 1-for-3 with an RBI on the deep shot.
Marshall Recap —
Carolina continued its winning ways in a 5-2 win over the Herd in the second game behind strong pitching from Kelsey Oh and timely hitting at the plate.
The scoring effort started in the first via Mackenzie Boesel and Alyssa Kumiyama RBI to take a 2-0 lead after one. It continued in the second with another Boesel RBI single to score two and make it 4-0 Gamecocks.
After Marshall scored one in the top of the fifth, Carolina responded with a run in the bottom frame thanks to an Alyssa VanDerveer RBI single to make it 5-1 after five. The Herd mounted one final comeback effort in the sixth, but the Gamecocks shut it down to close out the 5-2 win.
Boesel led the way at the plate for the Gamecocks 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBI. Oh went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits while striking out two.
NOTES —
The Gamecocks have scored at least one run in all 19 games this season. Dating back to last season, Carolina has done so in 20 of its last 21 games.
Head coach Beverly Smith improved to 245-179 with the win. She is the second-winningest coach in school history.
The Gamecocks won two games today to move to 18-1 on the year and their 15th-straight victory of the season. Prior to this season, Carolina last won 15-straight games in 1997. The Gamecocks went on to WCWS that season.
Kenzi Maguire has now reached base in all 19 games to start the season.
Carolina has reached base via a hit by pitch or walk (or both) in all 19 games this season.
UP NEXT —
Carolina returns to action for the final day of the Carolina Classic against Marshall at 3:00 PM ET. Live stats will be provided on gamecocksonline.com and Twitter.
