USC stays alive at NCAA softball tournament, ousts USF

Behind the first career shutout of junior Jessica Elliott, South Carolina eliminated USF (45-16) with a 6-0 win on Saturday night in the Tallahassee Regional at JoAnne Graf Field.

Elliott (18-9) scattered four hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in her first complete-game shutout, striking out four in the win. She got the support of the Gamecock (38-22) offense, with five different players adding hits, led by junior first baseman Kaylea Snaer’s RBI double.

The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead on a two-error misplay. That lead grew to 4-0 in the third after South Carolina loaded the bases, plating runs on a slow grounder, an error and Victoria Williams’ two-out RBI single. Two more Gamecocks scored in the fourth.

The Gamecocks earned a rematch against Florida State on Sunday, having lost to the Seminoles 4-0 earlier Saturday. Gamecock junior Nickie Blue (19-13) took the loss.

USC left eight runners on in the game, including the first two batters in the third and fifth and the bases loaded in the fourth.

First pitch on Sunday’s scheduled for noon, and USC will try to make it a doubleheader, needing to beat Florida State twice to advance out of the regional.