Gamecocks Drop Heartbreaker in SEC Quarterfinals

AUBURN, Ala. – The 11th seeded South Carolina softball team (34-22) dropped a heartbreaker Friday afternoon (May 10), as the Gamecocks fell to No. 3 seed and ninth ranked Texas A&M (40-12) 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

Zoe Laneaux led the offense with a 2-for-3 day, including a home run. Carolina’s two through six batters each had a hit on the afternoon.

Freshman Sage Mardjetko was stellar starting in the circle, throwing six innings, striking out a career-high nine batters, while scattering five hits. Alana Vawter (16-12) took the loss, allowing one run in an inning of work.

Carolina jumped in front in the top of the first. An error to start the game and a double from Riley Blampied gave the Gamecocks a scoring chance. Jen Cummings delivered on a single to right center, scoring Blampied from second. TAMU tied it up with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

The Gamecocks had an answer of their own in the third when Zoe Laneaux connected on her fifth home run of the season, an estimated 265 feet to straight away center.

That is where the score would remain until the bottom of the seventh when the Aggies loaded the bases and got a walk-off two-run single.

South Carolina will now wait to hear its named called Sunday night during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

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.