No. 23 South Carolina softball (22-14, 2-7 SEC) dropped its series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs this weekend at Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi.
The two defeats marked South Carolina's third consecutive series loss against a Southeastern Conference opponent to begin conference play this season. It was a low-scoring weekend down in Starkville, as the Gamecocks and Bulldogs each shut each other out once and combined for 11 runs in 21 innings of play.
South Carolina softball shuts out the Bulldogs in opening game
The Gamecocks began their weekend series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a shutout win in Starkville.
Junior pitcher Emma Friedel pitched the first 2.2 innings in her ninth start of the season for the Gamecocks.
Friedel struck out four batters and gave up four hits before being replaced in the third inning by senior pitcher Jori Heard. Heard was credited with the win on the day, pitching the final 4.1 innings, striking out three and allowing only two hits.
Redshirt senior outfielder Quincee Lilio started off the game with a single in the top of the first inning, but the Gamecocks were unable to capitalize.
Senior infielder Nadia Barbary responded with a one-out single in the bottom of the first for the Bulldogs, but was also left stranded.
Both teams traded singles in the second inning as well, with neither team able to get on the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs came closest to scoring in the bottom of the third inning, as senior right fielder Kiarra Sells opened the inning with a single. Friedel responded by forcing a foul out and a pop-up, before senior catcher Des Rivera singled to send Sells to third base. Heard then came in to relieve Friedel and ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Gamecocks found the breakthrough in the top of the sixth inning, starting with a double from junior center fielder Tori Ensley. Senior right fielder Jamie Mackay singled to send Ensley to third base, before junior infielder Alyssa Hovermale hit a two-out single that scored both of the runs.
Heard gave up zero hits in the final two innings as the Gamecocks were able to preserve the 2-0 win.
Gamecocks shut out in 2-0 loss
South Carolina softball dropped the second game of the series in a 2-0 pitcher's duel against Mississippi State. It was the third time this season and the second time in the past week that the South Carolina offense had been shut out.
After Mississippi State starting senior pitcher Peja Goold sent down the Gamecocks in order in the top of the first, South Carolina's starter, junior pitcher Nealy Lamb, ran into some trouble in the bottom half of the inning after two one-out singles. Back-to-back fielder's choices got Lamb out of the inning unscathed.
Lamb tossed 2.1 scoreless innings for the Gamecocks before being replaced by Heard, who inherited two baserunners in the third inning. Heard got two straight outs to keep the game scoreless.
A runner reached base in both the fourth and fifth innings for South Carolina, but the Gamecocks were unable to push a run across the plate.
Heard sent down eight of nine Bulldogs after entering to send the game into the sixth inning scoreless. Heard’s first strikeout of the game in the fourth inning marked her 300th career strikeout as a Gamecock.
After sending down the Gamecocks in order at the top of the sixth, Mississippi State broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the inning.
The inning started with a single and a sacrifice bunt, moving the runner to second with one out. The Bulldogs pushed the first run across the plate on a throwing error by sophomore shortstop Shae Anderson. A walk and a single brought another run in for Mississippi State, making it 2-0 for the Bulldogs.
Mackay rallied with a two-out double to bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, but Goold ultimately struck out the side to close out a 2-0 victory for the Bulldogs.
Goold tossed a complete, shoutout performance that included nine strikeouts. The senior was coming off a no-hitter against UT Martin in her last start.
South Carolina does series in 4-3 loss
Friedel earned the start once again for South Carolina, beginning the game with an efficient six-pitch first inning.
Mississippi State took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run by sophomore catcher and infielder Paige Ernstes. After being shut out for the first three innings, the Gamecocks tied the score 1-1 with a solo home run by senior first baseman Arianna Rodi at the top of the fourth.
Mississippi State was able to add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-RBI double by sophomore second baseman Xiane Romero. As a result, the Gamecocks would make another pitching change to Lamb.
Following the pitching change, Mississippi's Sells hit a single, resulting in runners being placed on the corners with no outs. The Bulldogs went on to score an additional run, making the score 4-1 after a bunt by Barbary.
South Carolina found success again in the sixth inning, with two back-to-back walks. The Gamecocks were able to load the bases with a groundball single by Mackay.
With the bases loaded, senior catcher Lexi Winters nearly cleared the bases and tied the game at four. However, a Mississippi State relay was able to tag out the game-tying South Carolina baserunner at home. Winters' hit still cut into the Gamecocks' deficit, making the game 4-3 entering the final inning.
South Carolina was only able to get one runner on base in the seventh inning, resulting in the Gamecocks dropping the series in 4-3 fashion to Mississippi State.
What's next?
South Carolina will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to take on the Tennessee Volunteers in a series from April 2-4. The first two games will have a 6 p.m. start time and will be broadcast on SEC Network+. The third and final game will have a start time of 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.