COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team (4-0) swept a doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 8) with an 8-0 run-rule win over Providence (0-3) and a 7-0 win over Saint Francis (0-3).
Quincee Lilio and Karley Shelton led the Carolina offense on the day with three hits apiece. Shelton and Ella Chancey led the way with three runs scored, while four different Gamecocks finished with two RBIs.
GAME ONE
Lilio led off the game for Carolina in the bottom of the first with a two-strike triple to left center. The Gamecocks went on to tally five runs in the inning thanks for four walks, two hit by pitches and a sacrifice fly.
Chancey started the second inning with a double for South Carolina and Brooke Blankenship followed it up with a single. Lexi Winters loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Abigail Knight delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Chancey. Blankenship scored on a wild pitch and Emily Vinson drove in Winters with a single up the middle.
The Gamecocks turned three inning-ending double plays in the game, including a 6-4-3 double play to end the game in the fifth.
Kadie Becker got her first win as Gamecock in the circle, throwing four innings and scattering four hits. Olivia Kotowski made her South Carolina debut, pitching the final inning in relief.
GAME TWO
Nealy Lamb was lights-out in the circle against Saint Francis, throwing five innings, striking out seven, while surrendering three hits. She also struck out the side in the second.
In the third, Shelton hit her first home run of the season, 255ft to straight away center to put Carolina’s first run on the board.
Shelton tacked on another RBI with a single in the fifth. After a sacrifice fly from Arianna Rodi plated a run, Chancey added an RBI double, and Winters brought home two more on a triple to left center.
That would be all the run support the Gamecocks would need as Sam Gress took over in the circle in the sixth, sending the Red Flash down in order. She tossed the final two innings, striking out a pair of SFU batters.
South Carolina looks to stay undefeated on the season with its final game of the Gamecock Invitation tomorrow (Feb. 9) at 3 p.m. against East Carolina.