Gamecocks Drop SEC Opener
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball squad dropped a pair of games to open SEC play Saturday (Mar. 12), as the Gamecocks fell to 15th ranked Georgia 8-7 and 13-4. Carolina’s record now sits at 15-8 on the season.
The series opener had been halted in the third inning Friday afternoon after two rain delays, and the start was delayed again Saturday morning. Over 24 hours after it was initially started, the two team wrapped up their SEC opener.
Hannah Kumiyama led the Gamecocks with three hits on the day. Jordan Fabian and Giulia Desiderio each drove in three runs to lead the way.
Game 1
Friday afternoon, Georgia took a 3-1 lead before the game was halted. In the bottom of the second, Katie Prebble hit her ninth home run of the season.
Once play resumed on Saturday, Georgia added a run in the fourth. The Gamecocks scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth, after drawing five walks in the inning. Desiderio and Carlie Henderson drew bases loaded walks to bring home the runs.
Two more walks in the fifth resulted in a run when Emma Sellers scored on a wild pitch.
Georgia retook the lead in the sixth, scoring twice. The Gamecocks got singles by Maddie Gallagher and Henderson to bring Fabian to the plate. With an 0-1 count, Fabian connected on her fifth home run of the season. The lead would be short lived as the Bulldogs score two runs in the top of the seventh to win it.
Leah Powell took the loss, allowing an unearned run in an inning of work.
Game 2
After Georgia scored a run in the first, the Gamecocks responded in the second with three of their own. Riley Blampied reached on a single and scored when Gallagher tripled down the left field line. Desiderio stepped in and on the first pitch, connected on her first career home run.
The Bulldogs scored three in the third before Carolina answered back in the fourth. Henderson walked and Desiderio followed with a single. Aliyah White tied the game with a single down the left field line, scoring Henderson.
Georgia scored nine runs in the fifth to go ahead for good.
Karsen Ochs suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five runs in 1 2-3 innings of relief.
First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for tomorrow, March 13, at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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.
