After beginning its season with a 3-2 record, the South Carolina softball team swept the Carolina Classic to improve its record to 7-2 on the young season. The Gamecocks displayed dominance all weekend, winning every game by at least four runs.
South Carolina played four games over a period of two days, sweeping both of its doubleheaders on Feb. 13 and 14. The Gamecocks were dominant throughout the weekend, outscoring their opponents 33-4.
Over the weekend, South Carolina defeated Louisville 9-1, Boston University twice by scores of 6-2 and 6-1, and concluded its weekend with a 12-0 victory over Kennesaw State.
South Carolina takes victory behind nine unanswered runs
The No. 16 South Carolina Gamecocks earned their fourth win of the season against the Louisville Cardinals on Feb. 13. The win was determined by a dominant fifth inning for the Gamecocks, ending the game with a run-rule.
Senior catcher Bri Despines started the Cardinals’ scoring early, bringing in a run on an RBI double in the top of the first inning.
The Gamecocks came out swinging but were quickly down to one out after fly outs from the first two batters. Sophomore infielder Tate Davis eventually answered back to the Cardinals’ run with an RBI double of her own, ending the first in a tie game.
With Louisville threatening at the top of the fourth with bases loaded, senior pitcher Jori Heard replaced senior pitcher Josey Marron. Heard secured the last out of the inning on a grounder to first base.
“Jori’s our ace," head coach Ashley Chastain Woodward said. "Bases loaded two outs. There’s no one more we want more to come in the game than Jori.”
In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore infielder Shae Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing a run to score. The next at-bat, redshirt senior outfielder Quincee Lilio singled up the middle, creating a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, junior outfielder Tori Ensley started the six-run inning with a sac-fly, followed by senior catcher Lexi Winter’s two-run home run. The Gamecocks added on three more in the inning, resulting in the Cardinals being run-ruled.
South Carolina’s victory is largely due to its pitching working through tough innings, causing Louisville to leave six runners on base through the game.
Emma Friedel deals as the Gamecocks defeat Boston
Taking on Boston University in the second game of the double header, the Gamecocks captured victory once again, this time by a score of 6-2. The team’s three runs in the second inning proved crucial in the effort.
South Carolina rolled with the same lineup against the Terriers that they did against the Cardinals earlier in the day. After closing out the win over Louisville, junior Emma Friedel started the game on the mound against Boston.
After a scoreless first inning, Friedel struck out two of three Boston batters in the top of the second. A single from Davis to start the half inning kick-started the Gamecocks largest scoring effort of the game.
On the next at-bat, a double into right center from Ensley sent Davis home for the first run of the game. Ensley stole third, then sophomore right fielder Nia McKnight was walked before eventually stealing second.
Ensley scored on a passed ball, and then McKnight scored on a fielding error at first base. South Carolina exited the inning with a 3-0 lead.
The game’s next run would be scored in the bottom of the fourth when senior catcher Jamie MacKay singled to third, sending McKnight home and giving the Gamecocks a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, junior second baseman Karley Shelton tripled to deep right field, sending home freshman utility player Ansley Bennett and Anderson. Shelton's extra base hit extended South Carolina's lead to 6-0.
A late two-run effort from the Terriers in the top of the seventh wasn’t enough to sway the game’s result. Bennett was credited with the save, striking out the game's final two batters in an inning that consisted of three walks, a double and a score off a wild pitch.
Friedel was credited with the win, finishing with six strikeouts in five innings pitched. Across both of Friday's games, the Gamecocks struck out just twice offensively.
"Definitely glad to get these two in the right column," Chastain Woodard said. "Start the weekend off better than we did last weekend and just give us a ton of momentum going into next week."
Strong first inning propels South Carolina past Boston University
A three-run first inning by the South Carolina softball team helped lift the team to a 6-1 victory over Boston University, marking back-to-back wins against the Terriers.
After taking an early 1-0 deficit in the top of the first inning, South Carolina responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
The top of the order applied pressure to the Terriers early, loading up the bases with its first three batters. From there, a Davis hit-by-pitch, wild pitch during Ensley’s at-bat and a walk drawn by Winters all contributed to the Gamecocks’ 3-1 lead.
Following the first inning, the Gamecocks' pitching staff shut out the Terriers for the rest of the game, holding the team to just one run on the afternoon. The pitching trio of Heard, Bennett and Friedel allowed just five baserunners for the final six innings of the contest.
The Gamecocks later added two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-RBI single by Anderson. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, South Carolina tacked on an additional insurance run on a bases-loaded walk by Bennett.
Bennett put her ability to contribute on both sides of the ball on full display against the Terriers, throwing two hitless innings and recording an RBI in her lone at-bat.
South Carolina softball dominates Kennesaw State 12-0 in final game of Carolina Classic
No. 16 South Carolina softball dominated Kennesaw State 12-0 in five innings during the conclusion of the Carolina Classic.
South Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Shelton scored on a wild pitch. After initially being ruled out at home, a successful challenge overturned the call to give the Gamecocks the lead.
The Gamecocks then expanded their lead to 9-0 by scoring four runs in the bottom of the second and third innings.
A two-RBI single by Shelton with both runners in scoring position gashed the game open to a 5-0 at the bottom of the second. Shelton went a perfect 4-4 from the plate against the Owls, knocking in four RBIs along the way.
Then, after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, a walk drawn by Lilio, a single by Shelton, a sacrifice fly by senior infielder Arianna Rodi and a single by Davis knocked in four runs on four consecutive at-bats.
The Gamecocks' pitching was dominant against Kennesaw State, allowing just two hits en route to their second shutout of the season. Sophomore pitcher Julie Kelley was granted the start, shutting out the Owls for the first three innings of the game.
South Carolina lifted itself above the 10-run mercy limit in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to RBIs from Mackay, redshirt junior infielder Lexie Shaver and Shelton.
South Carolina’s victory capped off a perfect 4-0 weekend to improve its 2026 record to 7-2.
What's next?
No. 16 South Carolina softball will head out west to compete in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California. Its first game will take place on Feb. 19 against the Washington Huskies, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.