Gamecocks Drop Heartbreaker to Force Game Three

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team (44-16) dropped the second game of the Columbia Super Regional 5-4 against UCLA (53-11) in a heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon (May 24).

The game opened similar to the first matchup, with a Lexi Winters RBI in the bottom of the first. Her single up the middle scored Quincee Lilio to give the Gamecocks the early 1-0 lead.

Sam Gress got the start for the Gamecocks and kept the Bruins scoreless through four giving up just two hits.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Lilio reached on an error before a hit by pitch to Karley Shelton and a walk by Arianna Rodi loaded the bases for Carolina. Winters delivered a single down the right field line to score both Shelton and Lilio.

Jori Heard entered the circle in the fifth where UCLA answered with a solo home run to bring the score to 3-1.

The Gamecocks found themselves in another bases loaded situation in the sixth with Lilio up to bat. A perfectly placed dribbler in front of home plate brought in Brooke Blankenship for another run.

The Bruins were kept quiet in the sixth but mounted their comeback in the seventh. Three hits, including a two-run walk-off home run, sealed the victory for UCLA to force a game three.

The Gamecocks will play the rubber match for a chance to go to the Women’s College World Series Sunday, at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

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.