Pitching, errors doom Gamecocks
South Carolina softball got its second taste of conference action at home with a doubleheader against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
After winning a three-game series against Arkansas, the Gamecocks hoped to keep a winning conference record going into Tuesday’s games, but the momentum would be no match for Mississippi State.
Both games were highlighted by South Carolina’s defensive struggles and Mississippi State’s ability to put runners in scoring position, as the Gamecocks had a combined four errors that allowed a total of six runs between the two games. Mississippi States offense carried them to the sweep, with a combined 19 runs on 17 hits.
“I think we just lost focus on defense,” Smith said. “There were some plays that we could have made [but we] didn’t do it tonight. “
Game 1 featured an early back-and-forth battle for the lead as the game saw it change three times. The game was the beginning of the defensive woes for the Gamecocks, as they went through all three starting pitchers who gave up six runs on seven hits and nine walks. Pitcher Kierstyn White would be charged for the loss on only 1 1/3 innings of work in which she gave up three runs.
“We just had a bad fifth inning,” Smith said. “They put up five, we walked the bases loaded and failed to get the outs we needed in that inning.”
The other four runs would come off two errors by Samie Garcia and Shelby Gonzales. Without the errors, the game would have been tied six to six. Offensively, Garcia would redeem herself by going a perfect 3-for-3, scoring three runs and driving in another. Kaela Jackson, who had a two-run homer in the fifth, and Chelsea Hawkins who went one for three with an RBI, provided the rest of the offense for South Carolina.
“The first game we really came out swinging the bats,” Smith said. “Stephanie Becker is a very good pitcher and we came out and hit the ball well on her in every inning.”
Things went from bad to worse for South Carolina in Game 2. The defensive struggles continued for the Gamecocks as they had two errors that led to two more runs. Pitching didn’t fare much better. After being charged with the loss in game one, White would again be hammered by the Bulldogs hitters and was taken out after only 2 2/3 innings. Mississippi State would score at least two runs in every inning but the first as they cruised to a 9-0 shutout of South Carolina in five innings.
“I think we had a good game plan in place for Game 2 but didn’t make the adjustments to stick with that game plan,” Smith said. “It was a repeat of the first game in that we had the opportunity make plays, and we didn’t convert on them.”
What good offense the Gamecocks were able to produce in the first game disappeared in the second game. Mississippi State’s ace Kylie Vry held South Carolina’s offense to a mere two hits. She also struck out six different Gamecocks to help seal the Bulldogs mercy rule win.
“If there was a game we had the opportunity to win it was game one,” Smith said. “We just gave that away.”