Mackay Hits Second Straight Walk Off Home Run for No. 23 Softball

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the second straight day Jamie Mackay hit a walk-off home run as the No. 23 South Carolina (18-10) softball team earned a 9-1 five-inning run-rule victory over Boston College (9-17) Saturday afternoon (Mar. 14).

Tori Ensley and Alyssa Hovermale both collected two hits on the day. Ensley also led the way with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Mackay also finished with two RBIs.

South Carolina jumped on the Eagles early with three runs in the bottom of the first. A pair of walks led to a two-run triple by Ensley off the wall in center. Tate Davis followed with a sacrifice fly to shallow center field that allowed Ensley to score.

Boston College scored its only run in the third on a sacrifice fly. The Gamecocks wasted no time in getting that run back and more. With two outs, Hovermale singled down the right field line to score Ensley. After a single by Lexi Winters, Shae Anderson singled up the middle to score pinch runner Ansley Bennett. A double steal by Anderson and Winters brought home another run. Nia McKnight capped off the inning with her second triple of the series to bring home Anderson.

In the fifth, Bennett was hit by a pitch to bring Mackay to the plate, and for the second straight day, she delivered. Up 2-0 in the count, she crushed her second home run of the season 256 feet over the wall in left field to put the run-rule into effect.

Jori Heard (4-2) earned the win, striking out three and allowing one run in four innings of work.

The series finale will be Sunday at 11 a.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.