Blue: focus key if South Carolina is to get back to early-season success
After seeing its hot streak cooled off, the South Carolina softball team looks to heat back up under the famously hot Columbia sun as they take on the Campbell University Fighting Camels.
This past weekend, the Gamecocks lost two of three games against SEC-rival Georgia on the road. Tuesday, they will be returning to the friendly confines of Beckham Field to host the Fighting Camels.
“There’s nothing like playing at home,” head coach Beverly Smith said. “Our girls are very comfortable there and we have great fans and great support. Being able to play at home this week against Campbell is just refreshing.”
Before the series against Georgia, the team was averaging 9.2 runs per game. This weekend, however, the gamecocks only averaged 1.3 runs per game.
“Against Georgia, we faced some tough pitching,” Smith said. “It’s as simple as everyone individually focused on getting great at bats. Then it goes back to having an even finer focus once you get base runners on to string some good things together so we can score runs.”
During the team’s previous winning streak, the team had an on-base percentage of .500, which to Smith is excellent. She said the team is looking to get back to that and put up much-needed runs against Campbell.
“We were drawing a lot of walks and the kids were really dialed in at the plate,” Smith said. “We would get a couple of people on with a walk and then a clutch hit to score two. I think that’s the part we have to get back to: just gritty, tough at bats.”
Defensively, the Gamecocks allowed 16 runs to Georgia, compared to the 2.5 runs per game they allowed during their win streak.
“We need to focus on what our strengths are as an offense and as a defense instead of getting caught up in what they do,” freshman pitcher Nickie Blue said. “We just need to focus on our strengths and do our job.”
For Blue, her focus is on doing what she needs to do to help the team, rather on what the other team is doing. She said that is the key to rebounding after the series loss to the Bulldogs.
“We need to focus on what our strengths are as an offense and as a defense instead of getting caught up in what they do,” Blue said. “We just need to focus on our strengths and do our job.”
Mid-week games have been good to the Gamecocks over the past two weeks. They are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents 36-2. The team is looking forward to getting a chance to rebound against Campbell in a midweek game.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there and being competitive. Our team brings a special emotion and competitiveness into each game and I’m excited to see where that can take us.”
The team is ready to get back out on the diamond to compete, according to Blue, who said that she is willing to do “everything in my power to help the team win.”
“We are going to bring the intensity, we are going to bring that home atmosphere, play our game and force Campbell to play our game,” Blue said. “We are going to exhaust them both mentally and physically.”
To Smith, she said that scoring runs, which she said the team does well, will be the deciding factor against the Fighting Camels.
“I think we have to focus on doing the things that we’ve done well all season,” Smith said. “Our team strength is offense and if we are going to be successful, we are going to have to hit the ball and score runs.”