May 17, 2014
South Carolina held a lead most of the game, but USF proved its mettle by coming back with two in the seven to take a 3-2 victory to move to Sunday’s championship games in the Tallahassee Regional, ending the Gamecocks’ season with a 35-22 record.
USF (43-16) tied the game on Lee Ann Spivey’s single to left, scoring Courtney Goff after her pinch-hit single up the middle started the inning. Goff took second on Ronnie Gajownik’s sacrifice bunt. Spivey, who moved to second on the throw, scored two batters later on Kristen Wyckoff’s hit to center after she fouled off four pitches, ending the game for the Bulls, 3-2.
“I think anyone who bought a ticket to today’s softball games got their money’s worth,” said Gamecock head coach Beverly Smith. “I thought there was some great softball played today. I was really proud of my team and the way we answered today. I thought we played two great softball games. I’m certainly really proud of our seniors and what they did and accomplished for our program.”
Senior designated player Ashlyn Masters gave the Gamecocks the 1-0 lead with a solo blast in the third, her second homer of the day. USF tied it in the bottom of the third on Ashli Goff’s two-out single to left center, scoring D’Anna Devine from second after she reached on an infield single and stole second with one out.
Junior catcher Sarah Mooney handed the Gamecocks the 2-1 lead with a one-out homer in the fourth, a shot over the wall in left. It’s her 12th homer of the year, giving her the school’s top single-season mark in the category.
Bull senior Sara Nevins (29-9) took the win with three innings of shutout relief, giving up three hits and a walk while fanning one. Redshirt junior Julie Sarratt (17-12) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits, three of those in the final frame along with her only walk. She struck out three.
Seniors Masters and Codee Yeske both had two hits in their final game in the Garnet and Black. Mooney had the other hit, joining Masters with a homer. Masters and Yeske as well as Brooke Barnhill, Dana Hathorn and Chelsea Hawkins leave the team after leading it to a pair of consecutive regional appearances for the first time in a decade.
