Softball Hits Three Home Runs, Heard Throws Shutout for Series Win

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The South Carolina softball team (26-21, 5-13) earned an SEC series win Sunday afternoon (Apr. 19), as the Gamecocks defeated Missouri (24-24, 7-11) 4-0 to take game three of the series.

Jori Heard (9-8) pitched her second complete game of the series, this time a shutout. She scattered three hits while striking six and walking two. It was her first complete game shutout of the season.

All three of Carolina’s hits were home runs.

South Carolina jumped out in front in the second when Tori Ensley hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season, a solo shot, to left center.

The Gamecocks went back-to-back in the fifth for the first time since March 9 of last season. Kai Byars was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. She would go to second on a Shae Anderson sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout by  Quincee Lilio. With a full count, Mackay connected on her second home run of the series and seventh of the season to right center. Three pitches later, Karley Shelton hit one to nearly the same spot for her sixth home run of the season.

That would be all the run support Heard would need as she retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced, including seven in-a-row to end the game.

South Carolina continues its road trip when it travels to North Carolina April 22 for a 5 p.m. first pitch.