The Daily Gamecock

Gamecocks capitalize on chances to take series opener over Razorbacks

South Carolina had just one baserunner after three innings against Arkansas Friday night as it looked like pitching would dominate the game. But in the fourth inning, the Gamecocks capitalized on small opportunities to put together just enough to get the 2-1 win.

That chance came right away as Mackenzie Boesel led off with a single, the first of three straight singles for the Gamecocks. Freshman Alyssa Kumiyama had a chance to open the game with the bases loaded and no outs, but she grounded into a 1-2-3 double play. 

That seemed to kill all momentum for the Gamecocks, but Jana Johns was able to pick up her fellow freshman with a double to left field. Jordyn Augustus scored to put the Gamecocks up 1-0. Pitcher Cayla Drotar was thrown out at the plate ending the Gamecocks rally. 

That two-out double by Johns was the game changer for South Carolina and head coach Beverly Smith said Johns gave the Gamecocks the momentum they needed to go out and win the game.

“That was clutch,” Smith said. “That was really the run that put us on the board. I, in fact, wrote on my scorecard ‘clutch’. It was just — she just battled in that ab, and it got a run for us."  

Drotar shut down the Razorbacks bats until the seventh inning when they started to put together a last-ditch rally, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Autumn Buczek was able to plate a run for Arkansas prompting a mound visit from Smith to calm down her ace. 

“She just told me to breathe,” Drotar said. “Calm down, relax ... I took a deep breath, I got back on the mound and I was like, ‘hey, this is what I do.” 

Drotar was able to go back out there to force the final out and give the Gamecocks the win. 

Due to incoming bad weather, Saturday’s game has been postponed until Sunday making the final two games a dreaded SEC double header to round out the weekend. 

“No one likes a doubleheader in SEC play because, just like tonight, every game is just so grueling, and you're literally living on every pitch,” Smith said. 

The Gamecocks remain unbeaten at home, (17-0) and improve to 32-6 overall, 7-3 in SEC play. Sunday’s doubleheader kicks off at 1 p.m. with the series finale starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.


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