Gamecocks Drop First Game of Series To Florida
April 13, 2018
Gainesville, Fla. –No. 11 South Carolina softball dropped a tough 3-1 game in the series opener against No. 6 Florida on Friday night at KSP Stadium. Carolina looked poised to mount a comeback in the seventh with Tiara Duffy‘s one-out double to score Kennedy Clark from first but the Gators were able to hang on for the victory to open the three-game set.
The Gators scored one run the first three innings before Kelsey Oh came on in relief in the fourth. Oh tossed two strikeouts in that frame to hold Florida scoreless and give the Gamecocks a little momentum heading back to the plate in the fifth.
Oh was one of the bright spots on the night for the Gamecocks, as she posted two-straight scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth to keep the Florida lead at 3-0 through five. Five of the freshman’s first six outs were strikeouts.
Oh closed the night with three innings of work, striking out six. She allowed just two hits and didn’t give up consecutive-hits on her way to posting three scoreless innings.
South Carolina (34-8, 8-5 SEC) found itself within striking distance the entire night, never allowing a big inning out of the Gators.
Florida used one run in the first three innings and solid pitching to earn the first victory of the series between the two teams.
With one out in the seventh and Clark on first, Duffy broke up the no-hit bid with a double to score Clark and cut the deficit to 3-1 before Florida sealed the win two batters later.
Cayla Drotar (15-3) took the loss in the circle in three innings of action, allowing three runs on three hits.
It was a tip-of-the-cap kind of night for Florida’s Kelly Barnhill. She went all seven innings on her way to allowing just one hit. She worked around four walks and a hit by pitch, as well, and finished the night with 13 strikeouts.
Between the two teams and three pitchers, 20 of the 38 outs were strikeouts.
Notes
- With tonight’s action, Carolina moved to 34-8 (8-5 SEC) on the year. Carolina is 18-1 at home on the year and has taken both home SEC series (No. 2 Tennessee and No. 20 Arkansas) thus far.
- This marks just the second time in four tries the Gamecocks have dropped the Friday night opener in SEC play in 2018. Carolina has taken at least one game in every series.
- With 14 games remaining in the regular season, Carolina has matched last season’s win total with 34. With a win last Sunday, the Gamecocks have matched last seasons victory mark in conference play (eight wins).
- Head coach Beverly Smith moved to 261-186 after Friday’s game. She is the second-winningest coach in school history.
Up Next
No. 11 South Carolina closes its three game-set against Florida with a doubleheader on Saturday due to expected weather on Sunday. The doubleheader will start at noon ET on SEC Network Plus while the second game will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
