Senior right-handed pitcher Jori Heard from Algonquin, Illinois, has proven herself to be a key factor for No. 25 South Carolina softball. In 40 innings of work this season, she has recorded a 1.39 ERA and an overall ERA of 2.32 in her four years with the program.
On Mar. 29 against Mississippi State, Heard hit a milestone with her 300th career strikeout. She has recorded 75 so far in 2026. Heard’s performance this season puts her at No. 12 in the NCAA and No. 2 in the Southeastern Conference for her earned run average. Softball America also recently placed Heard at No. 13 in its April power rankings.
The decision to become a Gamecock came from a sense of belonging for the Illinois native. Heard had previously been committed to Valparaiso University in Indiana in 2022 but ultimately found her place at South Carolina.
"South Carolina just felt like home," Heard said. "I just think it's so special that I've been here my whole career."
Heard has played key roles in conference play this season with 32 total strikeouts in 40 full innings.
In early March, Heard pitched just over 10 innings across three games in the series against Texas. She recorded nine total strikeouts over the course of the weekend.
The LSU series saw Heard in the circle for a total of seven innings in the 12-inning opening game on March 20. The Gamecocks defeated LSU 6-5. She ended the game with a 61% strike percentage on 129 total pitches.
As Heard raised her pitch count, head coach Ashley Chastain-Woodard expressed concerns as to her availability for the next game of the series, proving her accountability.
“(Her pitch count is) higher than usual, and so we’ll assess what the best plan is going into tomorrow,” Chastain-Woodard said after the LSU game on March 20. “I thought she looked great; she had six K’s.”
Heard then continued her momentum into the final game of the LSU series with seven strikeouts in just over five innings.
The Mississippi State three-game set brought another eight innings for Heard, with her longest appearance of the weekend being the lone win, 2-0, of the series on March 28. She pitched three strikeouts in the Gamecocks' kick-off win and earned two more during the following matchup.
Further proving her significance to South Carolina’s defense, Heard threw a complete game in the Gamecocks 5-1 win against the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers on April 3. She restricted the Volunteers to four hits and one run on the night.
South Carolina plays an experienced, starting defensive staff of seniors: senior catchers Lexi Winters and Jamie Mackay, senior first baseman Arianna Rodi and redshirt senior outfielder Quincee Lilio. Heard discussed the benefits of working with an experienced defensive team.
“It makes me feel really confident,” Heard said. “Every time I'm out there, I know every single one of them, whether they're a senior or not, I know they have my back, and I'd do the same for them.”
Early on in the season, Heard pitched a season-high eight strikeouts against Queens University Charlotte on March 1 in the Garnet & Black Invitational. Heard appeared in 12 out of 21 pre-conference games and struck out 36 batters.
Heard has only started nine games this season, but maintains the highest stat for innings pitched on the Gamecocks staff by a large margin. Woodard often opts to turn to Heard at least an inning into the game, if not later.
“I treat it like starting,” Heard said. “No matter what the score is, whoever I am going in for or if I'm starting, I've got their backs.”
As the Gamecocks dig deeper into SEC play, Heard looks to continue her dominance in her final season with upcoming series against Florida, Missouri, Texas A&M and Alabama.
As her final season is nearing a close, Heard reflects on her impactful stint with South Carolina.
"These have been the best four years of my life," Heard said. "It's coming to an end, but it'll be okay."
What’s next?
South Carolina softball hosts a series against the University of Florida at Beckham Field this weekend. The opening game’s first pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday.