Lilio’s Home Run Gives Gamecocks Opening Win at NCAA Regional

LOS ANGELES – Quincee Lilio’s three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth lifted No. 7 seed South Carolina (31-26) to a 7-4 win over Cal State Fullerton (40-14) in the opening round of the Los Angeles Regional Friday night (May 15).

Tate Davis and Natalie Heath both had a pair of hits on the night. Lilio led the Gamecocks with three RBIs and Davis added two.

The Titans took an early lead in the second on a two-out, two-run double. South Carolina responded in the bottom half of the inning. Lexi Winters got it started by reaching on a fielding error. Then, with a 2-2 count, Davis delivered on her sixth home run of the season over the wall in left center.

The Gamecocks took the lead in the bottom of the third after back-to-back doubles by Ensley and Shelton led to a run.

Fullerton tied it in the fourth after an error and a single. They would take the lead in the fifth after another error and a single.

Carolina loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth but a couple of outs on the base paths kept them off the scoreboard.

South Carolina would come back again, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Winters and Jamie Mackay singled. Heath tied the game when she followed with a single of her own to score Winters when the centerfielder bobbled the ball. After a fielder’s choice, Lilio stepped in with two on and two outs. After taking a strike, the California native connected on her first home run of the season, and fourth of her career, just over the wall in left center.

Jori Heard (12-11) got a pair of strikeouts in the seventh to shut down the Titans and secure the victory in relief. Heard tossed the final 3 2-3 innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits and strikeout out six. Emma Friedel started and threw 3 1-3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four.

South Carolina advances to play the winner of UCLA and Cal Baptist Saturday at 5 p.m.