No. 23 Gamecocks Drop Doubleheader

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 23rd ranked South Carolina softball team (21-7) dropped a doubleheader Sunday night (March 17), as the Gamecocks fell to NC State (18-9) 4-0 and Northwestern (11-7) 4-3 on the final day of the Garnet & Black Invitational.

Brooke Blankenship, Denver Bryant, and Carlie Henderson each collected two hits on the day.

GAME 1

The Gamecocks were unable to get their offense going, as they were limited to two hits in the game. They put runners on in four of the seven innings but were unable to move them into scoring position.

The Wolfpack scored a run in the first on a sacrifice fly, before adding three in the seventh.

Sage Mardjetko (5-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out seven in six innings of work.

GAME 2

The Wildcats took the lead in the third on a pair of singles. They added two more in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Carolina got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Blankenship singled with one out. After a walk and fielder’s choice, Blankenship scored on Bryant’s single up the middle that bounced off the second base bag.

They would add another in the sixth when Jen Cummings led off the frame with a triple off the right field wall. Pinch runner Emma Sellers scored on a groundout by Karley Shelton.

Carlie Henderson singled to start the seventh and an error put the tying run on second. Zoe Laneaux brought home Riley Blampied on a sacrifice fly to center, pulling the Gamecocks within one. The Wildcats intentionally walked Cummings to put the winning run on base, but a groundout ended the game.

Alana Vawter (7-4) took the loss, tossing five inning and allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and three strikeouts.

South Carolina returns to action March 20 when it travels to the Upstate for the Palmetto Series Presented by the SC Education Lottery for a 6 p.m. first pitch on the ACC Network.

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.