Gamecocks Earn Second Straight Walk Off Win

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecock softball team earned its second consecutive walk-off win over Virginia Friday afternoon (Feb. 7) 5-4 during day two of the Gamecock Invitational.

Jori Heard took the win in relief, moving to 2-0 on the season. She gave up one run in four innings, allowing three hits and striking out three. Nealy Lamb made her first start as a Gamecock, tossing for four innings while allowing three runs and striking out three.

Virginia took the early lead off a three-run home run in the top of the first and tacked on another run in the fifth.

Brooke Blankenship put the Gamecocks on the board in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly to score Karley Shelton.

Lexi Winters rallied the Gamecocks, launching a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Ella Chancey led off the inning with a walk and Blankenship followed with a single. Winters stepped in and on a 3-1 count, the hometown kid smashed her first career hit as a Gamecock over the wall in left center.

In extras, the Gamecocks walked it off for the second night in a row. On the second pitch of her at-bat to lead off the eighth, Blankenship hit her first career over-the-wall home run.

It’s the second game in a row the Gamecocks came from behind after trailing by three runs in the sixth inning.

South Carolina will take on Providence tomorrow (Feb. 8) at 3:30, followed by Saint Francis in a doubleheader.

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.