COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina's Jessica Elliott tossed a one hitter and fanned nine batters over five innings to lead the Gamecocks to an 8-0 victory over Furman in non-conference softball action on Tuesday night at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Box Score

The shutout improved the Gamecocks to 22-12 on the season. Furman dipped to 16-16.

Senior Taylor Williams put the Gamecocks in front with a two-run blast off Paladin starter Lindsey Bert in the bottom half of the second inning and Mackenzie Boesel clubbed a solo shot in the third to up the South Carolina lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the fourth, South Carolina set the table with a pair of singles before a throwing error and a grounder helped plate two more runs.

The Gamecocks forced the eight-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth. Boesel opened the frame with a double and Kennedy Clark followed with a single. A sacrifice fly brought in one run before Jordyn Augustus ripped an RBI double to left-center. A bunt single by Tiara Duffy drove in Augustus with the final run.

The victory improved Elliott to 9-6 in the circle, while Bert dropped to 9-8. The Furman left-hander allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings of work.

Boesel finished 2-for-3 with a double and a homer to pace the Gamecock offense. Junior Brittany Houston registered Furman's lone hit.

The Paladins return to SoCon play on Saturday and Sunday when they trek to Cullowhee, North Carolina, for a three-game series against Western Carolina.