No. 11 Gamecocks Win Series Opener Over No. 12 Texas Tech

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 11/10 South Carolina softball team (23-5) started the weekend with a top-15 win over No. 12/12 Texas Tech (23-8) Friday afternoon (Mar. 21) in its non-conference series opener at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Ella Chancey led the team with two RBIs and two runs scored on the night. Karley Shelton and Natilie Heath shared the lead for hits with two apiece.

Lexi Winters got the scoring started early in the first, bringing home Chancey from first on a perfectly placed double to right center.

Abigail Knight started off the second with her own double, the 40th of her career. A pair of singles from Heath and Emma Sellers loaded the bases for Emily Vinson. Vinson got the job done with a ground out to shortstop, scoring Knight and putting the Gamecocks up 2-0.

Texas Tech tied the game with a pair of runs off a double with two outs in the top of the fifth.

South Carolina had a quick response in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs to retake the lead. A leadoff walk by Quincee Lilio and an infield single from Shelton put runners on for Chancey. Her double down the left field line scored both runners. After a fielder’s choice moved Chancey up to third, Brooke Blankenship hit a sacrifice fly to right to score her. It was Blankenship’s seventh sacrifice fly of the season, which is tied for the most in the nation.

Jori Heard got the start for the Gamecocks tossing 3 1-3 scoreless innings before Sam Gress entered the circle. Gress (6-2) earned the win, scattering two hits and two runs across 3 2-3 innings with three strikeouts.

The Gamecocks look to clinch the series tomorrow in game two at 3 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.