While students have been enjoying the start of summer break, South Carolina athletics have remained busy during the homestretch of their spring seasons. Here's everything that happened in May.
Baseball
South Carolina (27-28, 13-17 SEC) had a subpar final month of the regular season, leading to its first losing season since 1996.
The Gamecocks' season came to a brutal end as Florida won on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
"They played with their heart, and that's all we asked for them, no matter what we were going through," head coach Mark Kingston said, following the loss.
After the season, fifth-year outfielder Brandt Belk was named to the All-SEC Second Team. In his first season in Columbia, Belk led the team in hitting with a .340 batting average and .420 on-base percentage.
In addition, freshman shortstop/right-handed pitcher Michael Braswell found his way onto the All-SEC Freshman Team. Despite his numbers taking a dip, he had a respectable campaign, hitting .284 with two home runs and 27 RBI. Braswell recorded three saves in five innings pitched.
On May 27, sophomore infielder Jalen Vazquez, freshman right-handed pitcher Aidan Hunter and freshman outfielders Thad Ector and Elijah Lambros entered the transfer portal.
Softball
It was a season to forget for the Gamecocks as the team finished 26-30 (3-21 SEC) and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament.
In the final regular season series, the Gamecocks managed to upset No. 13 Kentucky in game one but lost the next two games by a combined score of 24-6.
The season would come to an end after falling to Texas A&M in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
Since reaching the NCAA Regionals in 2019, South Carolina has finished last in the SEC the past two years. During that span, the Gamecocks have a combined record of 7-41 against teams in its conference.
Golf
The No. 24 ranked men's golf team competed in the NCAA Norman Regional from May 16-18. After starting strong with a second place finish on day one, the Gamecocks fell behind to sixth at 3-under on day two.
On day three, South Carolina shot 293 (+5) and finished sixth — six strokes back of reaching the top-five to compete for the NCAA Championship.
Redshirt senior Evans Lewis tied for fifth on the player leaderboard by shooting 210 (-6), giving himself an opportunity to compete as an individual at the NCAA Championship.
"It was a tough way to finish our season and we're all pretty disappointed right now," head coach Bill McDonald told GamecocksOnline. "I'm really happy for Evans and his showing. Making NCAAs as an individual is quite an accomplishment, and I look forward to being in Scottsdale with him."
On the women's side, No. 3 South Carolina's season came to an end at the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship. Despite having the lowest score in the final round, the Gamecocks finished in 14th place.
Freshman Hannah Darling shot 3-under 69 on the final day of the tournament, being one of only three players to shoot in the 60s.
Darling was named a Women's Golf Coaches Association First Team All-American, becoming the second freshman in program history to do so.
Tennis
Junior Daniel Rodrigues and sophomore Connor Thomson fell short in the NCAA Doubles Championship as they lost to the second seeded duo from Ohio State.
The pair ended their season with a 22-8 record and tied for second most matches won by a doubles team in a season in program history.
In women's tennis, freshman Sarah Hamner competed in the NCAA Singles Championship and lost to the No. 27 ranked player in the nation in the Round of 32.
Hamner, ranked No. 6, finished with 35 singles wins, tied for second most wins in a single season in program history.
Track and Field
South Carolina will be well represented at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with 11 qualifiers.
The women will have three individuals and two relay teams, while four individuals and one relay team from the men's side will be competing in the championships starting on June 8.
"It was a phenomenal week," head coach Curtis Frye told GamecocksOnline. "We have a lot of bright spots in the future. None of our men are leaving due to graduation. All of them are back. We lose three women, but we've got the other 11 and we're bringing in five more."
Lacrosse
Gamecock club lacrosse won its second-straight Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division I Title, defeating Georgia Tech, 11-9.
South Carolina previously won the title in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down action for the next two seasons.