Softball Sweeps the Garnet & Black Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 21 South Carolina softball team (15-0) battled back from behind to maintain its perfect record with an 9-4 win over UNLV (8-5) on Sunday (Feb. 23) to close out the Garnet & Black Invitational.

With the win, the Gamecocks have swept all three of their in-season tournaments – the Gamecock Invitational (5-0), Carolina Classic (5-0) and now the Garnet & Black Invitational (4-0).

Ella Chancey led the team with four RBIs off two hits. Quincee Lilio, with a hit and a walk, extends her on-base streak to 15 games, as she’s continued to reach safely in every game this season. She also extended her hitting streak to 14 games. Arianna Rodi finished her day 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Natalie Heath also had a pair of hits on the day.

The Rebels got ahead early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Sam Gress entered the circle with no outs and was able to end the inning and strand a pair of runners. Gress finished with four shutout innings in the circle, striking out two and allowing two hits.

In the bottom of the frame, Chancey got Carolina on the board with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Karley Shelton.

Brooke Blankenship drew a bases-loaded walk to score Shelton in the third, and Chloe Lackey scored off a fielder’s choice from Lexi Winters to close the gap to 4-3.

In the fifth, Chancey made it a tie game with her RBI double to left center, scoring Arianna Rodi.

Lilio smashed a two-run single up the middle in the sixth inning to put Carolina on top, and the Gamecock offense rallied from there. Chancey came up clutch yet again with a two-strike, two-run double. Emma Sellers came into pinch hit and drove in the final run with a single up the middle.

Jori Heard (7-0) got the win for South Carolina in relief after going three innings and allowing one hit while striking out three.

The Gamecocks will hit the road for the first time when they head to Charlotte Tuesday (Feb. 25) at 5 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.