No. 22 Gamecocks Shutout Ole Miss in Extra Inning Victory

OXFORD, Miss. – Behind a complete game shutout from Alan Vawter, the 22nd ranked South Carolina softball team (24-10, 1-6) took down Ole Miss (20-12, 3-7) 2-0 in nine innings Friday night (March 29) to open their SEC series.

It was the seventh extra inning game for the Gamecocks, as they improved to 5-2 on the season. South Carolina turned four double plays in the game, a new program record. Carolina turned double plays in the second, third, fifth, and eighth innings.

Denver Bryant and Zoe Laneaux each led Carolina with two hits apiece.

Vawter (9-5) was dominate in the circle, scattering five hits over nine innings, striking out six and not walking a batter. The lone runner in scoring position for Ole Miss came in the first on a two-out double. After that, Vawter and the Gamecocks didn’t allow a Rebel runner past first base.

The Gamecocks had a chance to score in the second after a couple of hits, but the runner was thrown out at home.

After neither team scored in the eighth, the Gamecocks got a leadoff walk from Aniyah Black and single from Denver Bryant to start the ninth. Zoe Laneaux brought home Emma Sellers, who was running for Black, on a single to right field. One out later, Bryant scored on an RBI groundout from Brooke Blankenship.

The Rebels got a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, but Vawter got a pair of strikeouts and groundout to end the game.

Game two will be tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.

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.