No. 22 Gamecocks Dig the Long Ball, Earn Series Win Over Rebels

OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 22 South Carolina softball team (25-10, 2-6) earned the series win over Ole Miss (20-13, 3-8) Saturday afternoon (March 30) with an 8-3 victory.

Kianna Jones led Carolina on the day, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two home runs. Denver Bryant and Carlie Henderson each added a pair of hits. Jen Cummings also drove in a pair of runs.

The Rebels took the early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first. It took Carolina a couple of innings to get its bats going, but once it did, the Gamecocks scored a run in every inning from the third through the seventh.

In the third, Henderson got the ball rolling with a leadoff single. One out later, Riley Blampied tripled off the wall in right field to being home Henderson. Blampied scored when Bryant singled through the right side two pitches later.

Jones connected on her first home run of the day, a solo shot to left, to lead off the fourth. The Gamecocks used the long ball again in the fifth. Giulia Desiderio led off with a double and Cummings followed by connecting on her second home run of the season to straight away center.

South Carolina turned it around and used small ball in the sixth. After an error and a double, the Gamecocks had runners on the corners. A double steal allowed Emma Sellers to score from third.

With two outs in the seventh, Aniyah Black drew a walk, brining Jones to the plate. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Jones blasted her fifth home run of the season to left field.

Sage Mardjetko (6-4) threw six innings, scattering five hits, three runs, two earned, while striking out five. Alana Vawter came on in the seventh and did not allow a hit.

South Carolina will go for the sweep in the series finale tomorrow at noon ET on the SEC 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.