Prebble Homers Twice as Gamecocks Sweep Day One of Garnet and Black
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team swept the first day of the Garnet and Black Round Robin, as the Gamecocks defeated NC State 9-3 and East Tennessee State 8-0. Carolina improves to 21-17 on the season.
Katie Prebble led South Carolina on the day going 3-for-7 with two home runs, six RBIs and three runs score. Aaliyah White finished the day 4-for-7 with two RBIs. Jordan Fabian collected a pair of hits while scoring four runs.
Game 1
The Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead when they scored three runs in the bottom of the first. They loaded the bases on walks to Fabian and Hannah Kumiyama, and a hit by pitch to Maddie Gallagher. Aaliyah White singled to left, scoring Fabian, before a fielding error by the left fielder allowed Kumiyama and Gallagher to score.
The Wolfpack scored a run in the top of the second before Carolina answered with six runs in the bottom half. The scoring started when pinch runner Giulia Desiderio scored from third on a bad throw when Fabian was caught in a rundown trying to steal second. Fabian would also score on an error off the bat of Kumiyama. After another error and a hit by pitch to Gallagher loaded the bases. White again delivered with an infield single, scoring Kumiyama. Carlie Henderson brough home Prebble and Gallagher with a single down the left field line. The final run came when White scored on a wild pitch.
NC State would add a run in the fourth and the seventh, but the Gamecock lead held true.
Bailey Betenbaugh earned the complete game victory, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out seven.
Game 2
Although the Gamecocks only scored in the third and sixth innings, they made them count.
In the third, South Carolina loaded the bases as Emma Sellers singled before Fabian and Kumiyama were hit by pitches. Prebble stepped in, and with a 2-0 count, launched her 11th home run of the season into the net in left field. It was the third grand slam of the season by a Gamecock and the second of Prebble’s career.
In the sixth, Fabian led off with a walk and scored on a single by Kumiyama. Prebble came to the plate and down 0-2, connected on her second home run of the day. Her 12th home run of the season moves her into a tie for fourth in a single season in program history.
Carolina would again load the bases as Gallagher walked, White reached on an infield single, and Henderson walked. Kassidy Krupit stepped in and on the first pitch, delivered a single through the right side, scoring Gallagher, and earning the walk-off run-rule victory.
Leah Powell threw a complete game in the win, allowing two hits, and striking out four.
The final day of the Garnet and Black Round Robin tomorrow, April 9, will see the Gamecocks take on the same two teams. They will face ETSU at 2:30 p.m. followed by NC State 30 minutes after.
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.
