No. 22 Gamecocks Drop SEC Opener

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 22 ranked South Carolina softball team (18-3) dropped its SEC opener Friday night (March 8) to No. 17 Texas A&M (21-2) 3-0.

Karley Shelton and Carlie Henderson led Carolina at the plate, each going 2-for-3 on the night. Alana Vawter (5-2) took the loss, despite surrendering only one earned run in the complete game. She struck out three while allowing five hits.

The Gamecocks looked like they would strike early, loading the bases in both the first and second innings. However, a double play in the first and a pair of strikeouts in the second ended the rallies.

Vawter retired 10 straight Aggies before allowing a hit in the bottom of the fourth. TAMU loaded the bases in the inning, but a pair of groundouts ended the inning.

Caroline put runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth, and seventh, but were unable to push across a run.

The Aggies scored in the fifth on an error and added two more in the sixth on a groundout and another Carolina error.

Game two of the series will be a 5 p.m. ET first pitch tomorrow (March 9).

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.