Softball Sweeps Carolina Classic with Run-Rule Victory
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Softball team (10-0) completed its second consecutive tournament with a sweep after a 11-0 run-rule win against App State (1-8) Sunday night (Feb. 16) at the Carolina Classic.
It’s the sixth shutout and sixth run-rule victory for the Gamecocks this season. It’s the ninth time this season Carolina has scored five or more runs. Through the first two weeks they are outscoring their opponents 81-13, including 28-0 in the fourth inning alone.
Nealy Lamb (3-0) picked up the win in the circle, going four innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Jori Heard entered the circle in the fifth inning and closed out the game with a strikeout.
The Gamecock offense put its first runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning, beginning with a two-run single to right from Brooke Blankenship. Lexi Winters followed it up with a two-run double, her fourth double of the season.
South Carolina scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. It’s the seventh game they’ve scored five or more runs in one inning this year.
Arianna Rodi and Natalie Heath had RBI doubles in the inning. Quincee Lilio added an RBI single and Blankenship added an RBI groundout. In her first at-bat as a Gamecock, freshman Mya Flindt connected on a two-run single.
Heath led Carolina at the plate going 2-for-2, both of which were doubles, with two RBIs. Lilio finished 2-for-3 with a walk on the night. Brooke Blankenship led the team with three RBIs. In all, eight different Gamecocks recorded a hit in the game. Lilio and Ella Chancey have now reached base in all 10 games this season.
South Carolina returns to action Wednesday (Feb. 19) when it hosts North Carolina at 6 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.
