Gamecocks Score Early and Often to Take Down No. 21 Kentucky

Lexington, Ky. – April 26, 2024

Four runs over the first and second innings pushed the South Carolina softball team (31-17, 7-12) past No. 21 Kentucky (29-17, 7-12) 5-2 Friday night.

Four different Carolina players had two hits on the night, Denver Bryant, Riley Blampied, Zoe Laneaux, and Brooke Blankenship. Blampied and Jen Cummings each drove in a pair of runs and Bryant scored twice. Alana Vawter (14-9) threw a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits and struck out three.

Fast Start for Gamecocks

The Gamecocks didn’t waste any time as Bryant led off the game with a triple down the left field line. Blampied followed with a single right center, scoring Bryant, and giving Carolina a lead they would not relinquish.

With one out in the second, Blankenship singled and Bryant walked. Blampied came through again with a single through the left side to bring home one run. Laneaux added a single to load the bases. A walk to Cummings brought home a run and a sacrifice fly from Aniyah Black scored another.

Strong Pitching and Defense

Kentucky got a run back in the third on consecutive singles and an error. With one out in the fourth, Cummings connected on her fourth home run of the season. The Wildcats added a final run in the bottom of the seventh.

Up Next

Game two of the series is tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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