No. 16 Softball Finishes Weekend Undefeated at Carolina Classic

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 16 South Carolina softball (7-2) earned a pair of victories on the final day of the Carolina Classic Saturday (Feb. 14). The Gamecocks defeated Boston University (3-6) 6-1 and Kennesaw State (1-6) 12-0 in a five-inning run rule.

Karley Shelton was on fire at the plate, finishing the day 6-for-8 with four RBIs. Quincee Lilio finished with three hits and three runs scored. Shae Anderson and Nia McKnight also finished with three runs.

GAME 1

Boston scored its lone run in the top of the first after a single and a double to start the game. The Gamecocks answered in the bottom of the first with three runs. The Terriers had to use four different pitchers in the first inning. Carolina scored runs on a bases loaded hit by pitch by Tate Davis, Shelton scored on a wild pitch, and Lexi Winters brought home another run on a bases loaded walk.

South Carolina added two runs in the third on a single by Anderson. The Gamecocks added a final run in the sixth on a bases loaded walk by Ansley Bennett.

Bennett (1-0) earned her first win of the season in the circle, throwing two perfect innings of relief and striking out two. Jori Heard started and went three innings, allowing one run on three hits and three strikeouts.

Lilio and Shelton each finished the game with two hits. Anderson led the way with two RBIs.

GAME 2

It was all Gamecocks in the nightcap as they scored at least one run in all four innings in which they batted. Shelton finished the game 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Arianna Rodi added in a pair of hits.

South Carolina opened the scoring in the first when Shelton came home on a wild pitch.

In the second, Anderson brought home two runs off a KSU error. Two batters later Shelton brought home Lilio and Anderson on a single to left field.

The Gamecocks scored on four straight at-bats during the third inning. Lilio drew a bases loaded walk, Shelton hit an RBI single, Rodi drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and Davis added an RBI single.

Jamie Mackay got the scoring going in the fourth on an RBI groundout. After a double from Alyssa Hovermale, Lexie Shaver connected on her first hit as a Gamecock, a triple down the right field line. Shelton capped off her night with another RBI single.

Three South Carolina pitchers combined for the shutout. Julie Kelley (1-0) tossed three innings to start, scattering two hits. Nealy Lamb didn’t allow a base runner in 1 1-2 innings with two strikeouts. KG Favors pitched the final 2-3 of an inning and struck out an Owl.

The Gamecocks travel to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic February 19-21, where they will play five games, four of which will come against Top-25 programs.

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.