South Carolina scored five runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game and rally from an early three-run deficit and take the 10-5 win over the Presbyterian College softball team this evening at the Pine Grove Complex in Columbia, S.C.

PC drops to 19-24 on the season, while SC improves to 23-19.  The Blue Hose have a couple of days off before heading to Conway, S.C., to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in a three-game series, April 5-6.  Friday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m., with the single game Sunday falling on the same time.

The Blue Hose hit well early in the game and led off the third inning with a base hit by Tera Powell, who went four-for-four in the game.  After advancing to second on a Jill McLean walk, Powell scored the game's first run off Cat Tarvin's RBI single up the middle.  Shelby Petik, who was two-for-four with a RBI, plated Tarvin with a single.  She was followed by Erin Taylor, who's RBI double brought home Erin Ruff, as PC took lead 3-0 after three and a half innings.

Sydney Seigler, who took the loss for PC (2-5) threw three innings of shut-out ball, giving up just two hits, before the Gamecocks led off the fourth with a solo home run by Chelsea Hawkins to kick start the offense.  SC recorded six more hits over the next two innings, including two RBI doubles and a RBI single to jump out to a 5-3 lead.

PC tied the game in the sixth after Powell singled to right and came home off a RBI-double from McLean.  She scored next as Morgan Durham singled up the middle to help PC knot the score at five.

The tie was short-lived as the Gamecocks plated five in the bottom of the sixth.  Highlighting the inning was a two-RBI single from Kristen Struett.  Hawkins came through for SC again with a RBI double as the home team took the 10-5 lead and eventual win.