麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 looking for 1st SEC series win; Julie Sarratt鈥檚 pitching strong in loss
Softball coach Beverly Smith passed along simple advice to pitcher Julie Sarratt. The result was one of Sarratt鈥檚 best outings of the 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 against Georgia.
But it wasn鈥檛 enough for South Carolina, as the Gamecocks lost their last two games of the series. Heading into Sunday鈥檚 finale, the series was tied at 1-1. South Carolina won the opener 6-2 but dropped Saturday鈥檚 contest 7-6. 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 has lost all five of its SEC series this 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒.
Smith encouraged Sarratt to focus on her off-speed and changeup pitches against Georgia鈥檚 offense. Sarratt said her goal was to keep the Bulldog hitters guessing.
Sarratt helped the Gamecocks keep all three games close, as the redshirt sophomore pitcher held one of the SEC鈥檚 top offenses in check.
鈥淗er performances on the mound were fantastic,鈥� Smith said.
Sarratt pitched the entirety of the Friday and Sunday contests. She allowed 10 hits and two runs Friday, but just five hits and two runs Sunday.
Sarratt鈥檚 play in the series brought her 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 ERA to 2.85, the team鈥檚 lowest. She has a 5-5 pitching record on the 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒.
Despite the loss, Sarratt was proud of how her teammates stepped up against the competition.
鈥淭hey were behind me the whole time,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were right there with them, fighting the whole time.鈥�
Said Smith: 鈥淭his was an exciting series for sure. I was pleased that we put ourselves in a position to win all three games.鈥�
The team will look to accentuate the positives of this weekend鈥檚 performance heading into the remainder of the SEC schedule.
鈥淲ell the SEC is a buzz saw,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e have certainly faced some of the toughest teams in the conference.鈥�
The Gamecocks have three more conference series this 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒. South Carolina will travel to Auburn and Mississippi State and host the third-ranked Gators to conclude the regular 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒.
鈥淚 think the remainder of the schedule sets up well for us,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e right there. It鈥檚 not always about which team has the most talent, it鈥檚 about who plays the best on gameday.鈥�
Smith said she has been getting the team to focus on details at the plate and on the mound.
鈥淲e are just giving up too many [runs],鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to figure out a way to hold our opponents down better.鈥�
Sarratt felt the team also needed to improve offensively by attacking the ball. The Gamecocks haven鈥檛 scored more than six runs against SEC competition this 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒.
鈥淲e just really need fight right now,鈥� Sarratt said. 鈥淚 think we have it.鈥�
The Gamecocks will face off against Presbyterian tonight at the Pine Grove Complex in West Columbia.