No. 25 South Carolina softball (26-21, 5-13) won its weekend series against the Missouri Tigers (24-24, 7-11), its first series win against an SEC opponent this season.
South Carolina captures win behind big hitting
South Carolina took a 1-0 series lead against Missouri after Friday’s 5-2 win over the Tigers. With both strong hitting and pitching from senior pitcher Jori Heard, the Gamecocks struggled early on but managed to break ahead of Missouri later in the game.
Missouri managed to get on the board first. Following a groundout, junior catcher Stefania Abruscato hit a home run, and junior infielder Abby Hay hit another home run before the inning ended for a 2-0 Missouri lead.
The Gamecocks responded with junior utility Tori Ensley hitting a double down the left-field line to start out the second inning. After senior catcher Lexi Winters hit a groundout and senior infielder Natalie Heath hit a sacrifice fly, Ensley managed to score at home, making the score 2-1.
The third inning saw little action from both teams. Senior catcher Jamie MacKay’s single marked the sole hit during the third inning. The same could not be said for the fourth inning. Rodi hit a home run, her seventh on the year, to start off, and it tied the game at 2-2.
The fifth inning also saw more action for South Carolina. To start, Anderson walked and redshirt senior outfielder Quincee Lilio then hit a flyout, but MacKay made up some ground by hitting South Carolina’s second home run of the game.
Heard didn’t let her foot off the gas. Though Missouri put another runner on base following a single, Heard and South Carolina’s infield defense quickly put an end to the fifth inning in similar fashion as the fourth.
The sixth inning went scoreless for both teams once more, with Heard earning her first three-and-out inning, following a groundout and two strikeouts.
South Carolina was able to score one final time, following the bases being loaded, with a sacrifice fly from Winters allowing junior infielder Karley Shelton to score, and the Gamecocks won 5-2.
A shutout for Gamecocks results in series tied
Junior pitcher Emma Friedel took over on the mound for the Gamecocks during the second matchup of the series on Saturday evening. The first two innings flew by for both teams, with Friedel earning a combined five strikeouts.
To start the top of the third inning, freshman outfielder Kai Byars hit a double. A subsequent bunt from sophomore infielder Shae Anderson put runners in the corners. Though Lilio hit a flyout, which permitted Byars to run home, she was tagged out, with a flyout from MacKay ending the top of the inning.
After Missouri put runners in scoring position, South Carolina brought junior pitcher Nealy Lamb to take over for Friedel. A sacrifice fly brought in one base runner before the inning came to a close, allowing the Tigers to take a 1-0 lead.
The top of the fourth inning went scoreless once more for the Gamecocks. However, Missouri took full advantage of miscommunication and defensive mistakes, including a throwing error and wild pitch committed by South Carolina.
With four hits, all singles, Missouri was able to bring in four runners, leaving two on base before South Carolina earned the third out. The Tigers had now established a 5-0 lead against the Gamecocks.
Come time for the fifth inning, both defenses stood their ground. Apart from Byars’ second double of the night, no other batters managed to get on base.
A strikeout from MacKay, a groundout from Shelton and a pop-up from senior infielder Arianna Rodi marked a quick three outs for Missouri to start the sixth inning. Freshman pitcher KG Favors was relieved by Friedel following two walks for the Tigers.
Freidel’s sixth strikeout and a double play, however, dampered any regained momentum the Tigers found to end the sixth inning.
South Carolina’s lack of offensive momentum continued through its final attempt at bat, despite a walk by sophomore infielder Tate Davis.
Missouri’s junior pitcher Marissa McCann helped propel the Tigers to capture the second game of the series, 5-0, following 113 pitches with six strikeouts, four hits and allowing zero runs.
South Carolina wins series following three-home-run show
Heard earned the start in the final game of the series, her fourteenth start of the season and second of the weekend.
In the second inning, Ensley hit a solo home run, giving the Gamecocks the first run of the game, 1-0. Ensley has nine home runs this season, the highest total on the team.
The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the second. Freshman designated player Sidney Forrester singled up the middle, and sophomore shortstop Madison Uptegrove followed suit with a single of her own, advancing Forrester. Sophomore infielder Sophie Smith drew a walk from Heard, loading the bases for Missouri. Heard subdued the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
Missouri’s senior pitcher Cierra Harrison and Heard traded swift defensive innings to move on to the fifth.
In the top of the fifth, Byars was the third hit-by-pitch batter of the game, prompting McCann to take the circle for the Tigers. Byars reached second on a sacrificial bunt and third off of an out at first. MacKay hit an RBI home run, her second home run of the series, bringing Byars home and setting the score 3-0 in favor of South Carolina.
Next pitch, Shelton continued the offensive energy for the Gamecocks with a solo home run of her own, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Freshman pitcher Abby Carr replaced McCann as the third pitcher of the game for Missouri.
South Carolina finished the shutout behind a strong pitching performance by Heard, with six strikeouts in a complete game.
What’s next?
The Gamecocks will travel to face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels Wednesday. First pitch is set to be thrown at 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX network.