No. 10 South Carolina softball picks up series win over No. 19 Ole Miss
South Carolina softball picked up yet another SEC series win over No. 19 Ole Miss after winning two out of three games.
The Gamecocks took a walk-off win in game one on Friday before dropping game two on Saturday, 2-1. However, South Carolina rallied in the end, winning on Sunday 4-2.
In addition, sixth-year right-handed pitcher Sam Gress and junior right-handed pitcher Jori Heard were the only two Gamecocks in the circle all weekend.
Game One
Friday night, the game remained scoreless through seven innings. The Rebels and the Gamecocks seemed evenly matched, but Ole Miss out-hit South Carolina at the plate 7-3.
In the end, South Carolina got it done in the bottom of the eighth after a four-pitch walk to Abigail Knight with bases loaded. Freshman right-handed pitcher Miali Guachino threw a complete game for the Rebels but ended up taking the loss on the night with 10 batters walked.
Gress almost pitched a complete game for South Carolina, going 7.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Heard relieved Gress on the mound, throwing just one pitch to end her inning.
Despite winning, South Carolina only produced three hits. Quincee Lilio, Karley Shelton and Ella Chancey were the three Gamecocks to make contact throughout the night.
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Game Two
South Carolina fell to Ole Miss Saturday in a 2-1 loss to even the series. The Rebels got on the board first in the fourth inning off an RBI single from Lexie Brady.
The Gamecocks responded in the sixth with one run as a result of a Brooke Blankenship RBI single. However, the Rebels retook the lead in the seventh and held on from there.
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Heard started on the mound, giving up just one run on two hits in 3.2 innings. Gress pitched out of relief and went 3.1 innings with one run on four hits.
Game Three
With the series on the line, South Carolina’s offense came alive when it needed to most. The Gamecocks defeated Ole Miss 4-2 after scoring four runs in the first inning.
In the first, Lexi Winters hit a two-run RBI double, followed by a Blankenship two-run RBI single. This inning alone was enough for the Gamecocks to hold off Ole Miss.
Ole Miss was able to produce one run in the first off a Lair Beautae RBI double. Following that, Ole Miss scored its second run in the sixth with an RBI single from Mackenzie Pickens. However, it was not enough to come back and get the win.
Heard pitched 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and gave up two runs on five hits. Gress followed, pitching 1.1 innings while allowing just two hits.
Up Next: The Gamecocks (30-8, 6-6 SEC) will host Charleston Southern (16-20, 5-4 Big South) in a midweek in-state matchup on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
