Gamecock softball beats Charlotte Wednesday night

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — South Carolina softball jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through two innings to spoil the new stadium presentation at Charlotte in a 5-1 win over the 49ers on Wednesday. Freshman Kelsey Oh pitched her first career complete-game as she earned her first win of 2018.

The Gamecocks improved to 5-1 on the young season with the win over the 49ers heading into the team’s home opener this Friday against Michigan State.

“I was really proud of Kelsey Oh for throwing her first career complete-game,” head coach Beverly Smith said. “For a freshman she showed a lot of composure in the circle. She had a lot of strikeouts. She got us some key outs in some key situations.

The Gamecocks scored four runs in the first thanks to an Alyssa Kumiyama RBI single to give Carolina a 1-0 lead. Cayla Drotar later extended the lead in the inning with a three-run blast to centerfield to make it 4-0 Gamecocks after one.

The scoring continued in the second as Mackenzie Boesel doubled to left center, scoring Kenzi Maguire to make it 5-0 Carolina.

From there, Oh (1-1) took over in the circle. The freshman didn’t allow a run until the sixth as the 49ers scored one in both of the final two innings to make a comeback effort that failed at the hands of Oh. She finished with nine strikeouts while allowing just four hits. Both runs were unearned.

Drotar led the way at the plate for the Gamecocks, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Boesel, Kumiyama, and Jana Johns also contributed with hits.

USC Athletics contributed to the writing of this article.