Softball Sweeps Furman with Pair of Walk-Off Wins
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team swept the visiting Furman Paladins Wednesday night (Apr. 20), winning game one 6-5 and game two 9-1 in six innings, both in walk-off fashion.
Kassidy Krupit led the way going 4-for-7 with two runs scored. Hannah Kumiyama, Katie Prebble, Carlie Henderson, and Riley Blampied all finished with two hits. Prebble and Jordan Fabian led the team with three runs scored. Fabian also drew five walks on the night. Kumiyama and Prebble led the way with three RBIs. In total, all 11 Gamecock’s that came to the plate collected at least one hit on the night.
Game 1
South Carolina jumped out to an early lead in the second inning on and RBI single by Kumiyama. In the fifth, Fabian escaped a rundown between third and home, as she beat the throw to score. Prebble followed with a single up the middle to score two more runs.
After Furman tied the game in the top of the seventh, the Gamecocks would not be out-done. Prebble reached on a fielder’s choice and Blampied followed with a double. Kumiyama stepped in and with a 1-1 count, singled over the right fielder’s head to score Prebble from third and earn the walk-off victory.
Leah Powell earned her sixth win of the season, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out three in the complete game.
Game 2
The Gamecocks would again take the early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Kumiyama.
In the second, Maddie Gallagher drew a bases loaded walk before Zoe Laneaux hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Henderson to score.
South Carolina added two more runs in the third, both coming with two outs. Katie Prebble connected on her 13th home run of the season, a solo shot, off the scoreboard in right-center. The home run moves her into fourth in program history for a single season. It was her 28th as a Gamecock, fifth all-time. They would add another run on an RBI single by Henderson.
The Paladins’ lone run came in the fourth on a sacrifice fly. Carolina answered in the bottom half, when Krupit singled to center, scoring pinch runner Giulia Desiderio. They would add a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Blampied.
The Gamecocks loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, setting up for another walk-off opportunity. Krupit and Henderson singled, before Fabian walked. Gallagher hit a ground ball that the Furman first baseman was unable to handle, allowing Krupit and Henderson to score and giving Carolina its second walk-off win of the day.
Skylar Trahan earned her third victory of the season, throwing a complete game. She scattered two hits while tying a season-high with seven strikeouts.
The Gamecocks continue their homestand when they host Ole Miss for an SEC series beginning April 22.
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.
