USC Posts a Perfect Weekend in Carolina Classic

By: USC SID

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — Behind solid pitching from junior Nickie Blue and timely hitting from freshman Kennedy Clark, South Carolina (7-1) downed Longwood (2-2) 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in the Carolina Classic at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

The Gamecocks wasted little time getting on the board, as Clark’s first-inning single scored fellow freshman Kenzi Maguire after she reached first on a fielder’s choice, and advanced to second on an error by the third baseman. South Carolina added an insurance run in the fifth on another Clark RBI single, scoring senior Alaynie Page who was hit by a pitch. After reaching first, Page stole second and took third after an errant throw, setting up Clark’s hit.

Starting pitcher Blue (3-1) tossed her first shutout of the year, scattering eight hits while striking out six. She stranded 10 Lancer runners in the contest, including runners at third to end the first, fourth and fifth. In the fifth, she collected two strikeouts to strand the runner at third. A double play in the sixth stopped Longwood from capitalizing on a bases-loaded, one-out situation. In the seventh, she also escaped a bases-loaded situation with two outs, getting a grounder to second.

Longwood starter Elizabeth McCarthy (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work. South Carolina left nine runners on in the contest as well.

Game Changer:
Blue’s calm demeanor and toughness under pressure kept the Gamecocks composed, helping them out of jams.

Key Stat:
Clark’s two RBI singles provided the margin.

Notables:
• Page had a hit, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.
• Two other Gamecocks had hits and stolen bases: seniors Ansley Ard and Jordan Bizzell.
• Three Lancers had two hits: Emily Murphy, Kaylynn Batten and Jamie Barbour.
• Batten and Barbour both had doubles.

GAME TWO RECAP:

Gamecocks Wrap Perfect Carolina Classic with 9-1 (6) W vs. Winthrop
Sophomore Krystan White has career day with three hits, five RBI and a home run

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind a career day from sophomore shortstop Krystan White, South Carolina (8-1) completed a perfect weekend in the Carolina Classic with a 9-1 (6) victory versus Winthrop (3-7) on Sunday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

White went 3-for-4 with five RBI, both career bests, while hitting a home run and the game-ending hit in the sixth. Her three-run blast wrapped a six-run first, and she added run-scoring hits in the third and sixth.

The Gamecocks had consecutive RBI doubles in the first from juniors Victoria Williams and Kaylea Snaer. Williams’ knock to center scored two, while Snaer plated Williams with her shot into the left-field corner.

After White’s RBI in the third made it 7-0, Winthrop got on the board in the fourth on a wild pitch, letting K.J. Uyeno score. The Gamecocks, however, finished things in the sixth, with the penultimate run scoring on Snaer’s sacrifice fly to right.

Gamecock starter Jessica Elliott (5-0) only need 45 pitches in her four innings of work to shut out the Eagles. She struck out three and allowed three hits. Dallas King (2-3) took the loss for Winthrop, giving up six runs, three earned, on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Game Changer:
The doubles helped, but White’s blast with two down in the first put the game out of reach and allowed the Gamecocks flexibility the rest of the way.

Key Stat:
White’s career-best five RBI powered the Gamecocks to the victory.

Notables:
• Both Williams and Snaer had two RBI and a run scored in 1-for-2 days at the plate.
• Freshman Lex Hull posted a 2-for-3 day.
• Gamecock sophomore Hayley Copeland tossed two-plus innings, giving up one earned run without allowing a hit. She struck out three.
• Taylor Williams went 1-for-1 off the bench, and played in left field for the first time as a Gamecock. That moved Alaynie Page to center for her first career action.
• Eagles Morgan Lowers, Paige Haley and Haley Zuehlke all had hits, while Haley reached again on a walk.

Quotable:
Head coach Beverly Smith
It was a really a great team weekend. Everybody got to go in and play, and our level of play didn’t change. Krystan White was a perfect example of that today. She had a huge day in her first start of the season. And the pitchers got good work in there this weekend.

Sophomore shortstop Krystan White
I’ve been working really hard with Coach Beamon to take aggressive hard cuts, and it definitely paid off today.

Up Next:
South Carolina wraps up its first homestand on Tuesday with a single game against Coastal Carolina, slated for a 5 p.m. first pitch at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.