Gamecocks Score Early and Often to Take Down No. 21 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four runs over the first and second innings pushed the South Carolina softball team (31-17, 7-12) past No. 21 Kentucky (29-17, 7-12) 5-2 Friday night (April 26).

Four different Carolina players had two hits on the night, Denver Bryant, Riley Blampied, Zoe Laneaux, and Brooke Blankenship. Blampied and Jen Cummings each drove in a pair of runs and Bryant scored twice.

Alana Vawter (14-9) threw a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits and struck out three.

The Gamecocks didn’t waste any time as Bryant led off the game with a triple down the left field line. Blampied followed with a single right center, scoring Bryant, and giving Carolina a lead they would not relinquish.

With one out in the second, Blankenship singled and Bryant walked. Blampied came through again with a single through the left side to bring home one run. Laneaux added a single to load the bases. A walk to Cummings brought home a run and a sacrifice fly from Aniyah Black scored another.

Kentucky got a run back in the third on consecutive singles and an error. With one out in the fourth, Cummings connected on her fourth home run of the season. The Wildcats added a final run in the bottom of the seventh.

Game two of the series is tomorrow at 2 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.