USC softball tops Coastal Carolina for 9th straight win
At Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, Ansley Ard’s two-run single in the second helped South Carolina (9-1) stretch its winning streak to nine games with a 3-1 victory against Coastal Carolina.
Ard drove in the game-winner with the bases loaded in the second, knocking an 0-2 pitch back through the middle to score fellow seniors Jordan Bizzell and Lauren Masters after they reached with a bunt single and a walk, respectively.
The Gamecocks made it 3-0 in the fourth when senior Alaynie Page punched a single back through the box, scoring sophomore Kamryn Watts after she started the frame with a hit.
Gamecocks junior Jessica Elliott (6-0) picked up the win with five innings of work, scattering six hits and one earned run. She struck out four. Nickie Blue collected her third save with three strikeouts in her two innings of relief.
“Anytime we get the win, we’re going to be happy,” coach Beverly Smith said. “Jessica Elliott and Nickie Blue held down a very strong Coastal Carolina offense. Our team did what we needed to do to win the ballgame. I would have liked to see us be a little better with runners in scoring position today, but I was pleased with the runners we did get on and score.”
South Carolina travels west this weekend to play in the Gaucho Classic at UC Santa Barbara. The Gamecocks take on the host Gauchos, Southern Utah and Georgia Tech in the weekend event.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
USC announces bus trip opportunity
The South Carolina athletics department is offering fans the opportunity to travel by bus to the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla., if the Gamecocks are playing in the championship game on Sun., Mar. 6. The package includes a ticket to the game, T-shirt, boxed lunch, assorted snacks and soft drinks/water and round-trip transportation. Tickets cost $90 and may be purchased online at GamecocksOnline.com, by calling the Gamecock Club at 803-777-9982 or by visiting the Gamecock Club office M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Gamecocks surge in rankings
South Carolina’s women’s tennis team (7-2) jumped 20 spots to No. 17 in this week’s Oracle/ITA Rankings. The ranking is the highest since 2010 for South Carolina, which topped out at No. 15 that season.