Gamecocks Drop Heartbreaker to No. 6 Tigers
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team (27-12) fell in heartbreaking fashion to No. 6 Clemson (38-4) 4-3, Tuesday night (Apr. 11), in the final game of the SC Education Lottery Palmetto Series.
Giulia Desiderio was the only player for either side to finish with two hits on the night.
South Carolina opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, pushing across two runs. Jen Cummings drew a one-out walk before Riley Blampied doubled her home. Aniyah Black followed with a single through the left side, bringing home Blampied and giving Carolina an early 2-0 advantage.
B-1 | Blampied draws first blood for Carolina!!@Rileybrooklyn22
🐔1 | 0 🐯 pic.twitter.com/WmTp03MRM8
— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) April 11, 2023
E-1 | Aniyah’s single makes it 2-0, home team 🤙@black_aniyah
🐔2 | 0 🐯 pic.twitter.com/PDVj651qtl
— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) April 11, 2023
Clemson responded with a run of their own in the top of the third off an RBI double.
The Tigers were down to their final strike, but took the lead in the seventh on a two-out, three-run home run.
Marissa Gonzalez responded with a leadoff homerun on a 2-1 count, halfway up the netting in left field. Desiderio reached on an infield single, but Carolina was unable to move the runner, as the game ended on a runner interference call at second base, resulting in a double play.
B-7 | Marissa Gonzalez 💣!! Gamecocks not done yet!!@marissa__12__
🐔3 | 4 🐯 pic.twitter.com/7CfHSmRvax
— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) April 12, 2023
Donnie Gobourne (7-2) struck out eight in the complete game loss, allowing four runs on five hits.
The Gamecocks continue their homestand this weekend against No. 23 Texas A&M April 14-16. It is alumnae weekend as Carolina will honor former All-American Mackenzie Boesel before Friday’s game, the 1983 College World Series team before Saturday’s game, and all its alumnae before Sunday’s game.
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.