South Carolina softball shuts out Florida State, moves within one win of Super Regional berth
It was a busy Saturday for South Carolina softball. It started at 5 p.m. and didn’t end until 10:15 p.m. Two games, two wins to live to see another day.
But there wasn’t much time to rest. The Gamecocks were right back at it Sunday morning in a similar scenario. Just keep winning.
Despite playing on less than seven hours of sleep, the Gamecocks did what they needed to do. They defeated Florida State 4-0 in the Regional Final Sunday afternoon.
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With the Seminoles not having lost a game since April 15, it was going to be a tough challenge. But South Carolina was up to the task in the early going, scoring two runs in the first inning.
It would be enough for the pitching staff that had been dominant to work with. Karsen Ochs got the start in the circle and didn’t disappoint. She pitched three scoreless innings, allowing no runs on two hits. She struck out two and walked one.
Donnie Gobourne came out from the bullpen in the fourth and looked as good as she has been. She pitched the rest of the way and retired every batter she faced, striking out four.
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In the fifth, South Carolina was in a position to add more runs to the board, with runners on the corners and nobody out. But then, Zoe Laneaux struck out swinging on a dropped third strike. As she ran down to first, Brooke Blankenship came racing home but was easily thrown out.
In a flash, the Gamecocks were in danger of coming up empty-handed.
That was until Aniyah Black stepped into the batter’s box. She laced a two-out single into left field, scoring two insurance runs. She finished the day going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Up next: There won’t be much time for either team to rest as there is another game still to be played in roughly 35 minutes. South Carolina will need to defeat Florida State for a second time to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
