South Carolina softball defeated UNC Charlotte 9-1 on Feb. 24 and Winthrop 5-4 on Feb. 25. The pair of wins saw the Gamecocks capture double-digit wins on the season, as they improved their record to 11-5.
The midweek matchups brought two different types of victories for the Gamecocks: a dominant run-rule win over the 49ers and a come-from-behind win over the Eagles.
South Carolina beats Charlotte 9-1 in run-rule fashion
No. 22 South Carolina defeated Charlotte 9-1 in five innings on Tuesday night at Beckham Field. Head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard spent five seasons as head coach at Charlotte before taking the coaching job at South Carolina before the 2025 season.
"That was a great night for us. Any time you can end it early, you have a lot of offense go your way," Chastain Woodard said.
Junior pitcher Emma Friedel made her fourth start of the season and had four innings of work with five strikeouts, two walks and one earned run.
Redshirt senior outfielder Quincee Lilio drew a leadoff walk to start the game in the first inning, later advancing to second on a groundout. Lilio was stranded after sophomore third baseman Tate Davis flied out to end the inning.
Charlotte looked to take the first lead of the evening in the top of the second after sophomore catcher Audrey Wilson walked to lead off the inning. Wilson advanced to third on two wild pitches, and senior outfielder London Dirks walked to put runners on the corners, but Friedel had her second strikeout of the day to remain scoreless.
Junior outfielder Tori Ensley singled to start the bottom of the second for the Gamecocks. Senior catcher Lexi Winters blasted an RBI double to score Ensley and give South Carolina an early 1-0 lead.
Sophomore shortstop Shae Anderson had the second walk of the day, with Winters and Anderson moving into scoring position courtesy of a sacrifice groundout from junior designated player Alyssa Hovermale.
Sophomore outfielder Nia McKnight doubled to score Winters to push the Gamecocks out in front 2-0 after two innings.
Senior first baseman Arianna Rodi walked, and Davis singled to continue the hot offense in the third inning. Ensley singled to centerfield to score redshirt junior pinch runner Lexie Shaver. The Gamecocks went up 4-0 after Winters grounded out, scoring Davis.
The 49ers threatened in the top of the fourth after back-to-back singles. Both runners moved into scoring position after a groundout, with Charlotte scoring its first run of the evening with an RBI single to cut into the Gamecocks' 4-1 lead.
Singles from McKnight and Lilio and a walk from junior second baseman Karley Shelton loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ensley hit the Gamecocks' first grand slam of the season to give South Carolina a commanding 8-1 lead.
Anderson singled and stole second with McKnight walking to once again put the first two Gamecock runners on in the fifth. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, with Lilio sealing the Gamecocks' 9-1 win over Charlotte with an RBI double.
South Carolina clinches 5-4 road victory against Winthrop
South Carolina erased an early four-run hole Wednesday night, using a late offensive push to defeat Winthrop on the road.
The game opened with both teams going three up, three down in the first inning.
Rodi provided the first spark for the Gamecocks in the top of the second inning, doubling down the left-field line and moving to third on a groundout. However, the Gamecocks could not bring her home, leaving her stranded in scoring position.
Winthrop struck first in the bottom half of the second inning when redshirt junior catcher Annelisa Winebarger launched a solo home run to left field to make it 1-0.
In the top of the third inning, the Eagles' defense once again left a Gamecock baserunner stranded in scoring position after Lilio advanced to third base after a single and Winthrop error. Once again, after three innings of play, South Carolina had no runs to show for it.
Winthrop junior center fielder Emma Roberson walked, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before redshirt junior designated player Darrah Nickens drove her in with a single to shortstop. Junior designated player Tia Beckham followed with a two-run home run to the left, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Facing its largest deficit of the night, South Carolina answered in the top of fourth inning as Rodi drew a walk and Shaver entered as a pinch runner. Davis singled and advanced to second on an error, putting runners on second and third.
After a strikeout, Anderson lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Shaver and get the Gamecocks on the board.
Senior catcher Jamie Mackay kept the rally alive with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error, driving in Davis. Hovermale followed with a double to left field that plated Mackay and trimmed the deficit to 4-3.
South Carolina continued to chip away in the top of the fifth. Ensley singled to open the inning but was caught stealing. Rodi and Davis worked back-to-back walks following a pitching change, and McKnight reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Rodi to score and tie the game at 4-4.
The go-ahead moment came in the sixth when Hovermale led off the inning by sending a solo home run to center field, giving South Carolina its first lead of the night at 5-4. Lilio later doubled, but the Gamecocks were unable to extend their lead going into the final inning.
From there, the pitchers kept the Gamecocks on top to close it out. Winthrop managed just three hits in the game and did not score after the third inning. Heard sealed the comeback, striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
South Carolina finished with five runs on eight hits and no errors, leaving 10 runners on base. Winthrop scored four runs on three hits with three errors.
What's Next?
South Carolina hosts the Garnet and Black Invitational starting Friday, Feb. 27 against Queens. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be streaming on SEC Network+.