Gamecocks Earn Run-Rule Victory for Home Opener

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team opened home play with an 8-0 run-rule victory over the College of Charleston Wednesday night (Feb. 15) at the Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. The Gamecocks are now 3-1 on the season.

Riley Blampied and Aaliyah White each collected a pair of hits on the night. White also scored twice to lead the squad. Blampied and Brooke Blankenship both finished with two RBIs on the night.

Four of the Gamecocks eight runs came in the second inning. Blankenship doubled home Emma Sellers and Giulia Desiderio, to put Carolina in front 2-0. White plated Blankenship with a double down the left field line and Blampied scored White with a double to right-center.

Blampied continued her solid night at the dish with a blast to left in the bottom of the fourth for her second home run of the season, stretching the Gamecock lead to 5-0.

Carolina added one run in the fifth off a Sellers single to center and two more in the sixth. An RBI single from Zoe Laneaux was capped off on Marissa Gonzalez’s walk-off fielder’s choice, when her ground ball to the Cougars shortstop allowed Carlie Henderson to score, enforcing the run-rule.

Rachel Vaughan started in the circle for South Carolina, tossing two scoreless frames and allowing only one hit. Bailey Betenbaugh picked up the win for the Gamecocks to improve to 2-1 on the season. She threw four innings, surrendering two hits, striking out eight, and allowing just one walk.

The Gamecocks return to action tomorrow (Feb. 16) at Beckham Field to kick off the first day of the Carolina Classic against East Tennessee State (0-3) at 5:30 p.m.

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.