South Carolina softball bested by Duke in second game of Durham Regional
The South Carolina softball team has become familiar with pitcher’s duels in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
On Friday, the Gamecocks and Utah were engaged in one all afternoon. The two teams combined for eight total hits, and South Carolina eventually won 2-1. Both teams’ pitchers — Alana Vawter and Mariah Lopez — went the distance and delivered masterful performances in the circle.
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Early signs showed that another one would take place in South Carolina’s second game of the NCAA Tournament. But the Gamecocks were unable to emerge victorious this time around.
In a game that ultimately did not finish as a pitcher’s duel, Duke earned a run-rule 8-0 win to advance to the Durham Regional final.
It didn’t take long for South Carolina (35-23, 8-16 SEC) to record its first hit of the afternoon. Denver Bryant led off the game with a groundout, but Riley Blampied hit a double to left-center field.
That would be the last hit Duke starter Jala Wright allowed until the sixth inning. Wright, who was unanimously selected as the ACC Pitcher of the Year, delivered her second strong performance in as many days. She threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters.
South Carolina’s starting pitcher, Sage Mardjetko, also impressed in her NCAA Tournament debut. She gave up a leadoff single to D’Auna Jennings in the bottom of the first but then proceeded to retire the next five batters, recording four strikeouts in the process.
But Mardjetko would be the first of the two pitchers to make a mistake. And it was one that Duke (49-6, 20-4 ACC) was successfully able to capitalize on in the third inning.
Madrjetko started her second at bat of the afternoon against Jennings with a riseball over the plate. Jennings connected with the pitch and sent it over the wall in right-center field to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead. The solo blast was also Jennings’ first home run of her college career.
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Duke would build on that lead one inning later, taking advantage of Mardjetko’s lack of command. Mardjetko hit Jada Baker and Francesca Frelick with pitches, and both advanced to second and third base, respectively, after a wild pitch.
Gisele Tapia successfully brought both batters home four pitches later. Tapia slapped a single up the middle that scored both Baker and Frelick, giving Duke a 3-0 lead.
South Carolina’s offense showed some flashes late in an attempt to get back into the game. Karley Shelton joined the game as a pinch hitter and singled in the sixth inning.
But that was all the Gamecocks could muster at the plate, as they finished with just two hits and three total baserunners.
The Blue Devils’ bats would not be silenced as the game went along. They eventually closed out the game with a five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth.
Bailey Betenbaugh was brought into the game to keep Duke’s offense at bay, but she recorded just two outs allowed four hits and three walks. Kelly Torres, who was robbed of a home run to lead off the frame, officially ended the game with an RBI single.
Up next: With the loss, South Carolina falls into the loser’s bracket of the Durham Regional. The Gamecocks will face the winner of Utah and Morgan State’s contest later this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
