Feb. 21, 2014
Box Score | Gamecock Invitational Central
Saturday's gametracker links: Michigan St. | Gardner Webb
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Despite sophomore Melanie Russell allowing just three hits in six innings of work, the Boston University softball team dropped a 2-0 decision at South Carolina on Friday evening. Handing the Terriers (0-1) a season-opening loss in the first day of the Gamecock Invitational, the host Gamecocks improve to 8-2 behind their fifth straight victory.
A 2013 NCAA regional finalist, South Carolina entered the contest averaging 7.3 runs and 8.2 hits but could never get comfortable against Russell (0-1), who struck out four batters against just one walk in her scarlet and white debut. The Gamecocks though pounced on two BU errors in the middle innings and prevented the Terriers from reaching third base en route to the shutout victory.
Julie Sarratt (2-1) struck out 10 Terriers in five innings of work without a walk and only allowed one hit. Nickie Blue (1) collected the save with two scoreless innings of relief, fanning two while walking one and giving up two hits.
BU had its chances at the plate, leaving a total of six runners on base. In the top of the fourth, freshman Moriah Connolly led off with a single and stole second with one out. Senior Chelsea Kehr was then hit by a pitch. Sarratt got out of the jam by earning the strikeout and force-out grounder to third.
In the bottom of the fourth, Russell started off strong by inducing a ground out and fly out. However, she then walked the next batter, and the Gamecocks added a second runner due to an infield error. Pinch hitter Victoria Williams delivered the striking blow with a flare to left that landed in the grass and put South Carolina ahead for good.
The Gamecocks added an insurance score in the fifth when Codee Yeske led off with a triple to center and reached home on a BU miscue in the outfield.
Trying to mount a rally, junior Mandy Fernandez recorded a two-out single in the sixth but was stranded at first. In the seventh inning, senior Brittany Clendenny led off with BU's third single of the contest and moved to second with one out after sophomore Lauren Hynes was walked.
Blue escaped from a potential blown save by getting the lineout to second and a game-ending strikeout.
The Terriers will continue the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 12:30 p.m. against Michigan State (3-5), who defeated UNC Wilmington, 5-2, earlier in the day. They will then face Gardner Webb (1-7) at 8 p.m.
