IU Battles, But Falls to No. 18 South Carolina

Sunday, March 11

Norman, Okla.

12:00 PM ET

Indiana University

4-18

South Carolina

21-2

South Carolina

Indiana

3/11/2018 4:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

NORMAN, Okla. – Indiana Softball dropped Sunday's finale of the Oklahoma Tournament to No. 18 South Carolina, 7-3. The Hoosiers faced a 5-0 second inning deficit and battled back to cut the Gamecock lead to 5-3, but South Carolina ultimately pulled away.

After redshirt sophomore pitcher Josie Wood worked a quick 1-2-3 frame to start the game, Jenkins led off the home half with a double to left center. However, the Hoosiers couldn't cash in as she was left stranded.

South Carolina took advantage of walks and a couple Hoosier fielding errors to plate five in the second inning. After a leadoff single by Jana Johns, three straight walks plated the first run of the game. A Hoosier fielding error at short allowed a second run to come home before a sacrifice fly by Kenzi Maguire made it 3-0. A double from Mackenzie Boesel pushed another run across before a second Hoosier error extended the advantage to 5-0.

"After a clean first inning, we went out and gave up the single, a couple walks then the error," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "In that situation, we need sudden change. If our pitcher walks someone, we need to lock it down on defense and can't give up a five-spot early on. Our errors were the difference today and a top-25 team is going to take advantage."

The Gamecocks threatened again in the third after a pair of back-to-back singles started the frame. However, sophomore Emily Goodin stepped in and got IU out of danger. Goodin finished the day with 4.0 innings of works, allowing just one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts.

"It was nice to see Goodin come in and give us those innings to keep the ballgame tight," said Stanton. "She's been doing some great things for us this year. We just didn't make plays and that's what the game came down to. Not taking care of the ball."

Indiana got on the board in the fourth, thanks to the first career home run by junior Sarah Galovich. Senior Rebecca Blitz led off the fourth with an infield single before advancing to second on a South Carolina throwing error, setting the stage for Galovich's knock to left field.

The Hoosiers inched closer in the fifth, closing the deficit to 5-3. After senior Rachel O'Malley earned a four-pitch walk to leadoff, sophomore Gabbi Jenkins reached on a Gamecock fielding error. As pinch runner Mykayla Ferrari stole third base, South Carolina catcher Alyssa VanDerveer overthrew the attempt to catch her, allowing Ferrari enough time to score.

"What I did like today is we battled back and we competed," said Stanton. "That's what I'm proud of this group for – we aren't quitting. We're staying in the game and fighting."

However, the Gamecocks used an RBI single by Maguire in the sixth and a seventh-inning RBI fielder's choice to push the lead to 7-3.

Up next, the Hoosiers close out this current 23-game road swing as they travel to Lexington, Ky. to face the Wildcats Wednesday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Indiana opens up play at Andy Mohr Field on Friday in the annual Hoosier Classic.