No. 16 Gamecocks Sweep Friday Doubleheader
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 16th ranked South Carolina softball team (5-2) picked up a pair of wins Friday (Feb. 13) on the first day of the Carolina Classic. The Gamecocks earned a 9-1 five-inning run-rule win over Louisville (4-3) and capped off the night with a 6-2 win over Boston University (3-4).
Tate Davis led all players with four hits on the day to go along with two RBIs. Karley Shelton finished with three hits and four RBIs.
GAME 1
Louisville plated a run in the top of the first, but after that it was all Gamecocks. With two outs in the bottom of the first Arianna Rodi drew a walk. Davis then hit a double off the wall in right center that allowed Rodi to score from first.
In the fourth Carolina plated a pair of runs on sacrifice bunt from Shae Anderson and an RBI single from Quincee Lilio.
South Carolina put the run rule into effect with a six-run bottom of the fifth. Tori Ensley brought the first run home on a sacrifice fly to left. Lexi Winters followed with a two-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Shelton brought home two more runs on a single up. Davis finished it off with a flare to right field that score pinch runner Dakota Potter.
Jori Heard (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, tossing 1 1-3 innings of relief while not allowing a batter to reach.
GAME 2
Emma Friedel (2-1) was outstanding in the circle for Carolina in the nightcap as she scattered two hits in five innings of work and struck out a season-high six batters.
Ensley got the offense going in the bottom of the second with an RBI double. A couple batters later with the bases load Ensley scored on a passed ball.
The Gamecocks added a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Jamie Mackay. They would add two more in the sixth on a two-out, two-run triple by Shelton.
Boston University loaded the bases and scored twice in the top of the seventh, but freshman Ansley Bennett came on to strike out back-to-back Terriers to earn her first career save.
The Gamecocks and Terrier will have a rematch Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and then Carolina will take on Kennesaw State following the conclusion of that game to close out the Carolina Classic.
