No. 17 Gamecocks Walk It Off Twice Friday Night
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 17th ranked South Carolina softball team walked it off twice Friday night (Feb. 23), as the Gamecocks defeated UMass 9-0 in five innings and James Madison 3-2. Carolina improves to 11-1 on the season.
GAME 1
Carolina jumped out to the early lead in the first, scoring a run on a single by Aniyah Black. They added a run on a sacrifice fly by Bre Warren.
In the bottom of the second, the skies opened, and a heavy rain poured down on the Carolina Softball Stadium. The hail and rain forced the teams into a 2:08 rain delay. When play resumed, the Gamecocks put the pedal to the floor. A walk to Brooke Blankenship was followed by an RBI single from Riley Blampied, and a two-run triple from Kianna Jones.
It initially looked like they would play on through the fifth, but a leadoff walk to Jen Cummings was followed by a single by Black. A throwing error by the Minutemen allowed a run the score. The game ended when freshman Reganne Bennett connected on her third home run of the season, a two-run shot to center.
Bennett (3-0) earned the win in the circle, throwing a complete game shutout. She scattered two hits and struck out three.
GAME 2
The Gamecocks had to play from behind against the Dukes, as they scored on a two-run double in the fourth.
South Carolina pulled within one when Bennett reached on a groundball, allowing Jones to score.
In the bottom of the seventh, Karley Shelton led off with a double down the right field line. After a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Carlie Henderson to third, she scored on Blankenship’s single to center. Another single by Blampied put runners on second and third with one out. After a defensive conference by the Dukes, Jones delivered a sacrifice fly to deep left field, easily allowing Blankenship to score from third and walk it off.
Alana Vawter (3-0) earned the win in the circle, throwing four innings of relief. She allowed two hits and struck out four. Sage Mardjetko started for Carolina, she threw three innings and allowed two runs on two hits.
The Gamecocks return to action tomorrow (Feb. 24) as they take on South Alabama at 3 p.m., before a rematch with UMass 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.
