Gamecocks eager to win again after five straight losses
After losing four straight games, South Carolina was so close to getting its first win of the week.
It forced its third game with Auburn into extra innings after dropping the first two in the series, but the Gamecocks watched AU third baseman Kyndall White hit the first pitch she saw from pitcher Julie Sarratt over the left field wall for a walk-off home run, giving the Tigers a 3-2 win and a series sweep.
Such has been the story for USC of late: keeping the game within reach before watching it slip away at the end.
“On Sunday, we fought really hard to tie the game,” coach Beverly Smith said. “We were actually getting one-hit going into the sixth inning, and the girls came back and scored two to tie, and then we took it into extra innings. We were there, giving ourselves an opportunity to win, but we just didn’t get that clutch hit.”
USC (16-12) looks to snap its five-game losing straight as it travels to Coastal Carolina (14-12) tonight. The Chanticleers are nursing their own six-game losing skid, as they went 0-6 in the Chanticleer Challenge over the weekend.
Furthermore, the Gamecocks have already faced Coastal this season, where Sarratt made her college debut — a no-hitter as Carolina cruised to a 5-0 win.
“We certainly won’t be taking Coastal Carolina lightly,” Smith said. “We’ll definitely be heading in there very well-aware of the hitters that they’ve got. They’ve been playing tough opponents here lately, and I’m sure they’ll be well-prepared for us.”
The leading hitter for Coastal is Brooke Donovan, who is hitting .295 with eight RBI and a home run. The Chants also have four players who have each homered three times this season.
And despite the last outing against Coastal, USC is not getting ahead of itself; the stellar pitching in that game cannot be overlooked.
“No question, we had a lot of success against them, simply because our pitcher had a great game and we played great defense against them,” Smith said. “I think we’re building confidence with every game we’re playing, and we try to do the same things. We want to swing at good pitches and take care of the ball.”
As far as the bats for the Gamecocks, Lauren Lackey leads the team with a .385 average, seven RBI and one home run. No player has more than two home runs, but seven players have hit one out this season. Dana Hathorn leads the team in runs batted in with 20.
“Any win is going to be important for us,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter who our opponent is, we’re out there trying to win every game, so certainly, we’re going to head into Myrtle Beach tomorrow for the win.”