Alaynie Page ties HR record as USC softball upsets No. 4 Alabama

On her senior day, left fielder Alaynie Page provided the offense, and the Gamecock pitchers stifled the Crimson Tide batters to lead South Carolina to a 2-1 victory over No. 4 Alabama in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

Page tied South Carolina’s career home run record on the second pitch she saw, putting the Gamecocks on top 1-0. She tied McKenna Hughes (2004-07) with 33 career homers with a shot over the center-field wall.

Page reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with the home run, two runs scored and two walks.

Junior Kaylea Snaer came through with an RBI single for the Gamecocks (34-17, 6-14 SEC).

USC junior Jessica Elliott (17-5) picked up the win with four innings of shutout work, scattering a hit and three walks while fanning two. Junior Nickie Blue picked up her sixth save of the year with three innings of relief, giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks. She struck out three, including two in the final frame to seal the victory.

The Gamecocks and Crimson Tide decide the series winner at 1 p.m. Sunday (SEC Network Plus). Alabama is 42-10, 13-7 SEC.