PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. - It came down to extra innings in a thrilling contest south of the border, but it was nationally-ranked South Carolina who scored twice in the eighth inning to hold off UC Davis on Saturday afternoon.

The Gamecocks built an early lead before the Aggies used a three-run sixth inning to make it a tie ballgame and put the SEC opponents on their heels. UC Davis had its chance to put the game away in the bottom of the seventh after two base runners reached to start the inning, but South Carolina got out of the jam and carried that momentum into the eighth frame, where they would deliver the finishing blow.

Grace Kilday enjoyed a multi-hit day after going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Anna Dethlefson went 1-for-3 and reached base three times while Libbie McMahan also tallied a hit in the contest.

Ashley Sawai got the nod and held strong against a hefty South Carolina lineup, throwing four innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits. Caroline Grimes (1-2) took the loss in the circle for UC Davis, but posted a decent line in her four innings of work. The right hander threw three innings of scoreless ball before running into some trouble in the final frame, ultimately allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits, allowing two walks and striking out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gamecocks capitalized on a leadoff double in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead.  UC Davis immediately answered when Kilday's RBI single scored Sophia Eftekhari from third base, evening things up at 1-1.

South Carolina took control in the next frame, pushing three runs across to retake their advantage heading into the fifth inning. 

The Aggies would not go away, responding by getting back on the scoreboard themselves to tie the ballgame at 4-4. Kilday slapped a base hit up the middle for the catcher's second hit of the day to leadoff the inning. Sydney Polli followed by laying down a nice bunt and an error would allow both runners to advance. Another defensive mishap landed Dethlefson on base and brought Kilday around to score. The Aggies used some heads-up base running on the part of Dethlefson and Polli, executing a double steal to claw within one. After a base hit from McMahan, Leah Polson did her job with an RBI groundout to make it 4-4 after the fifth.

Grimes settled into a groove and toss three straight innings of scoreless ball to give her team a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh. Maddie Grissom led off the inning by wearing a hit-by-pitch and Polli would come on to pinch run. In a game-defining play, Dethlefson roped a single through the right side, but Polli was thrown out after a good throw mowed down the pinch runner attempting to go from first to third.

UC Davis was unable to score in the inning allowing South Carolina the chance to reply in the eighth, and they would do just that, scoring twice before shutting the Aggies down in their last chance at the plate to earn the 6-4 victory in extras.

GAME NOTES
» UC Davis pitchers limited South Carolina to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 38 South Carolina hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out two.
» Kilday led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
» South Carolina was led offensively by senior Kianna Jones, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
» Freshman Sage Mardjetko led the Gamecocks pitching staff, throwing four shutout innings.

UP NEXT
The Ags wrap up the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. PST) when they take on Mississippi State.
 
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