JACKSONVILLE –
Kat Carter shut down the ULM offense and
Camryn McLemore led an explosive one for the Jacksonville State softball team in a 7-0 win on Tuesday afternoon at University Field.
Carter limited the Warhawks (13-5) to just three hits in seven shutout innings to set the tone for the Gamecocks (7-6), while McLemore had two of the Gamecocks' 10 hits and drove in three runs in the winning effort.
A freshman from Spring Hill, Tenn., Carter (4-3) carved up the ULM lineup, striking out five and allowing just four baserunners in her fifth complete game and second shutout in seven starts this season. She faced 25 batters and didn't issue a walk to a team that had walked 62 times and was hitting .309 coming into the game.
McLemore, a junior from Saraland, Ala., went 2-for-3 with three RBI but had two clutch hits in leading the Gamecocks' offense in the win. She got the team's first hit of the day, an RBI single with the bases loaded in the first, and then delivered the knockout blow with a two-run triple in the fifth that gave the Gamecocks a 4-0 lead.
Senior
Sidney Wagnon was 2-for-2, walked twice and scored a pair of runs after being moved into the second spot in the JSU batting order, while
Lindsey Richardson had a pinch-hit RBI double in the fifth.
Addie Robinson and
Hannah Buffington each drove in runs for the Gamecocks, as well.
The Gamecocks scored a pair of runs in the first to start the game, which would be all that Carter would need in her gem. They would add three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to put the game on ice.
Adrianna Chavarria (1-3) started the game but didn't record an out before being pulled after allowing a pair of runs on two walks. Victoria Adams came in and pitched the next five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks, while Kassidy Giddens pitched the final inning and gave up a run on two hits.
The Gamecocks will travel to Starkville, Miss., this weekend, when they will compete in the Mississippi State Bulldog Invite. They will open play on Friday at 10 a.m. against Furman, followed by a 12:30 p.m. game against Alcorn State. JSU will take on Furman and the host Bulldogs on Saturday before closing the weekend with a Sunday morning game against Alcorn State.
