Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina's Alana Vawter hurled a one-hitter and Aniyah Black drove in three runs to lead the 17^th-ranked Gamecocks to a 6-0 victory over Furman in non-conference softball action Wednesday at Carolina Softball Stadium in Columbia, S.C. 
 
The Gamecocks (9-2) took the lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first and extended the advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Black lined a two-out, three-run triple over the head of the rightfielder. After South Carolina added single runs in the third and fifth innings, Denver Bryant batted in a run with a single off Angelina Ricciadi in the bottom of the sixth and Bre Warren triggered the eight-run. Mercy rule with an RBI double.
 
Vawter fanned eight batters and issued just one walk over six scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 in the circle. Black, Warren, and Reganne Bennett each collected two hits to lead the South Carolina offense.
 
Senior Sierra Tufts (4-1) took the loss for Furman after allowing two earned runs, four total, on four hits in two innings of work. Hannah Poole notched the lone hit for the Paladins.
 
Furman (7-3) returns to action this weekend at Coastal Carolina's Battle at the Beach in Conway, S.C. The Paladins open play in the tournament on Friday, February 23, with a 10 a.m. first pitch versus the Louisville Cardinals before facing the Bowling Green Falcons at 12:30 p.m. Saturday will feature two more games against the Cardinals and Falcons prior to the tournament finale on Sunday against Coastal Carolina.