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Gobourne Strikes out 11, Gamecocks Split Doubleheader with No. 16 Alabama
Softball  . 

Gobourne Strikes out 11, Gamecocks Split Doubleheader with No. 16 Alabama

Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The South Carolina softball team (27-11, 4-8) split its SEC doubleheader with No. 16 Alabama (28-12, 6-6) Saturday afternoon (Apr. 8), as the Gamecocks fell 4-0 in game one before winning the series finale 3-1.

GAME 1

Alabama broke the game open in the third, scoring four runs on four hits, all singles. The Gamecocks were unable to get their offense going as they were held without a hit in the game.

South Carolina’s best chance for a run came in the second inning. After Riley Blampied reached on an error, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout, before the final out was recorded.

Leah Powell took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1-3 of an inning. Rachel Vaughan was perfect in three innings of relief, retiring all nine batters she faced, two via strikeouts.

GAME 2

The Gamecocks struck early, scoring in the top of the third on a double steal. Giulia Desiderio was hit by a pitch and Emma Sellers reached on a bunt single. Desiderio advanced to third on a fly out to put runners on the corners. Sellers got into a rundown attempting to steal second, allowing Desiderio to scored.

The only run for the Crimson Tide came on a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the third.

South Carolina wasted no time responding, scoring the game-winner in the top of the fourth. Jen Cummings walked to start the inning, and on the first pitch, Jordan Fabian connected on her seventh home run of the season to left field.

That was all Donnie Gobourne needed as she mowed down 11 Bama hitters on the night. They put the tying run on base in the bottom of the fourth, but Gobourne retired the next two batters to end the threat. She retired the final eight batter of the game, with the final five coming on strikeouts. On the night she allowed three hits and walked four. It marked only the second time this season Alabama has been struck out 11 or more times, the other coming against then No. 2 UCLA on February 17.

The victory is South Carolina’s first in Tuscaloosa since a 14-0 win in 2017 and its sixth win all-time at Alabama.

The Gamecocks return home to host game two of the SC Education Lottery Palmetto Series April 11 at 6 p.m. against the fourth ranked Tigers.

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

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