Gamecocks Score 21 Runs in Sweep of Buccaneers
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team swept a doubleheader from Charleston Southern Wednesday night (March 2), with the Gamecocks winning game one 16-2 and game two 5-2. The sweep improved Carolina to 10-5 on the year.
Game 1
Charleston Southern took the lead in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly. The Gamecocks wouldn’t let that lead last for long, as they scored five runs in the bottom of the inning. Zoe Laneaux started the scoring with a bases loaded walk. Maddie Gallagher reached on an infield single to score another, before Giulia Desiderio doubled to center and cleared the bases.
Jordan Fabian walked to lead off the second before Marissa Gonzalez tripled to the right-center gap for her first collegiate hit. Katie Prebble brought home Gonzalez on an RBI groundout.
The Buccaneers scored another run in the third, before the Gamecocks put the game away in the fourth with nine runs. Fabian scored on a wild pitch, Prebble brought home a run on a single up the middle, and Riley Blampied scored two more on a single down the left field line. Carlie Henderson walked with the bases loaded to score another run, before Fabian doubled down the left field line to score two more. Emma Sellers capped off the scoring with a two-run single to left-center.
In the circle, Leah Powell earned a complete game victory, as she improved to 3-0 on the season. She allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two and not giving up a walk.
Game 2
The Gamecocks jumped out to the early lead in the second game and never trailed. Laneaux led off the second inning with a double down the right field line. One out later, Gonzalez, who was pinch running, scored on an RBI groundout by Kassidy Krupit.
Carolina extended their lead in the third. Henderson led off with a single and scored when Fabian doubled to right-center. After moving to third on a fly out, Fabian scored on a single to left by Hannah Kumiyama.
The Buccaneers scored two runs on a double in the fourth to pull within one. South Carolina cemented the victory in the bottom of the sixth. Laneaux led off the inning by hitting a 2-2 pitch off the top of the left field wall and into the netting, for her second home run of the season. Blampied followed with a double and Henderson brought her home on a single down the left field line.
Kelsey Oh improved to 3-1 on the season with the complete game win. She surrendered two runs on four hits, striking out two, and walking one.
The Gamecocks head to Florida for a three-day tri-series with #24 UCF and Florida Gulf Coast beginning March 4.
For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecockSoftball.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.
