No. 13 Softball Splits Final Day of Mary Nutter Classic
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The 13th ranked South Carolina softball team (9-5) split the final day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Saturday night (Feb. 21). The Gamecocks dropped the first game 5-4 to No. 9 UCLA (12-3) before closing out the weekend with a 4-2 victory over Saint Mary’s (7-5).
GAME 1
What started as a pitcher’s duel, turned into an offensive battle in the final two innings. South Carolina came alive with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Gamecocks were held without a base runner through the first five innings, but with one out, pinch hitter Alyssa Hovermale reached on an infield single. After a UCLA error put runners on first and second, Karley Shelton stepped in and delivered. Down 0-2 in the count, she singled to shallow center, scoring Kai Byars. Arianna Rodi stepped in, and with a 2-2 count, connected on her fifth home run of the season to straight away center.
UCLA countered with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh. They would get a bases loaded walk and an RBI single before a two-run single ended the game.
Nealy Lamb (0-2) took the loss in 1 2-3 innings of relief. Jori Heard started and scattered four hits in five innings of work.
GAME 2
The Gaels jumped out to an early lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. That would be the only offense the South Carolina pitching staff would allow the rest of the way, as the Gamecocks limited them to one hit over the final six innings.
The Carolina offense got going in the sixth inning when Tate Davis connected on her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left center.
In the seventh, Shae Anderson led off the inning with her first career home run to left field. After back-to-back walks, Quincee Lilio reached on an infield single to load the bases. Two pitches later Karley Shelton delivered the game-winning hit with a single through the left side to bring home Kai Byars and Ansley Bennett.
Emma Friedel (4-1) was nearly perfect in 5 1-3 innings of relief. She allowed only one hit while striking out a season-high nine batters.
The Gamecocks return home to host Charlotte February 24 at 6 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.
