No. 19 Gamecocks Earn Series Win at No. 8 Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 19 South Carolina softball team (18-0) earned the series win at No. 8 Duke (14-5) Saturday afternoon (Mar. 1) with a 4-2 victory in game two. Carolina’s perfect start trails only the 1976 team that started the season 20-0.

Quincee Lilio shined for the Gamecocks, finishing the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored. She extends her on-base streak to 18 games and her hitting streak to 17 games. Arianna Rodi finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and extended her on-base streak to 13 games. Ella Chancey and Karley Shelton both extended their on-base streaks to 18 and 16, respectively.

South Carolina didn’t waste any time getting on the score board when Lilio singled to lead off the game. One out later and with a full count, Rodi connected on her seventh home run of the season to right center.

Duke got a run back in the third on a solo home run and tied it in the sixth on a two-out single.

With one out in the seventh, Emily Vinson drew a walk to start the rally. Lilio followed with a single and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. With a 2-2 count, Shelton broke the tie with a single to center. Rodi added on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly down the right field line.

The Blue Devils got the tying run on base with two outs, but Jori Heard induced a slow ground ball to Rodi to end the game.

Heard improved to 10-0 on the season, throwing 4 1-3 innings, allowing one run on five hits. Sam Gress pitched 2 2-3 innings, striking out four while allowing one run on two hits.

The final game of the series will be tomorrow at noon.

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.