Early Lead Not Enough for Gamecocks Against No. 4 Alabama
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team drop the opening game of its SEC series against 4th ranked Alabama 7-5 Friday night (Mar. 25). The Gamecocks are now 18-11 on the season and 2-5 in conference play.
Aaliyah White led the way going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Katie Prebble and Giulia Desiderio also had two hits each, while Prebble led Carolina with two runs scored.
Bailey Betenbaugh took the loss, throwing a complete game, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, and striking out five.
South Carolina took the lead early, scoring two in the second and three in the third.
In the bottom of the second, Prebble led off with a single and Riley Blampied brought her home on a double to right-center. White would later score on an groundout by Desiderio.
In the third, Jordan Fabian singled to start the inning. After stealing second and moving to third on a groundout, Fabian scored on single by Hannah Kumiyama. White brought home pinch runner Olivia Cook on an infield single. The Gamecock’s final run came across on a single by Desiderio.
Alabama scored an unearned run in the third and fourth innings. The Crimson Tide took the lead in the six on a two-out grand slam, before adding a solo home run in the seventh.
Game two of the series will be tomorrow, March 26, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
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.
