Strong fifth inning helps South Carolina defeat No. 12 Texas Tech

No. 11 South Carolina softball defeated No. 12 Texas Tech in a close game one of a ranked weekend series. The Gamecocks took down the Red Raiders 5-2 after taking the lead for good in the fifth inning, improving to 23-5 on the season.

Lexi Winters got the Gamecocks on the board first with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Emily Vinson followed in the next frame with a hit to put South Carolina up 2-0 early.

A dropped third strike call led to two Red Raider runs scoring in the fifth off a two run RBI double by Mihyia Davis.

Get USC Gamecocks app notifications

Ella Chancey was responsible for getting the game back in South Carolina’s hands with a two run RBI double of her own in the bottom of the fifth.

“We scored early,” head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “I felt like we got a little casual. In the middle we gave them a chance to get back in the game, with just a few mistakes. But I was really proud of them for answering in the bottom of the fifth with three after we gave them the tie game in the top of the fifth.”

Chancey performed at the plate going 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Karley Shelton went 2-for-4 and scored a run.

Junior Jori Heard got it started on the mound for the Gamecocks, going 3.1 innings and keeping Texas Tech off the board. She struck out two and allowed just four hits.

Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress replaced Heard on the mound and was responsible for the two Red Raider runs.

Up Next: The Gamecocks will host the Red Raiders again Saturday Mar 22 for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on SECN+.

Visit The Insiders Forum, our exclusive Gamecocks-only, no-trolls message board!

The post Strong fifth inning helps South Carolina defeat No. 12 Texas Tech appeared first on On3.