News Summary
The South Carolina Gamecocks softball team’s season came to an end as they fell to UCLA in the super regional series, missing a chance to reach the Women’s College World Series. After a strong start with a win in Game 1, the Gamecocks faced two consecutive losses, concluding their impressive season with a record of 44-17. Despite the disappointment, the team had many highlights, including a remarkable early-season start and setting several program records under head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard.
Columbia, South Carolina — The South Carolina Gamecocks softball team fell just short of advancing to the Women’s College World Series, concluding their historic season after a three-game super regional series against UCLA. The Gamecocks, ranked No. 8 nationally, faced UCLA in a best-of-three showdown that began with a promising victory but ultimately ended in defeat, leaving South Carolina with a final record of 44-17 for the season.
The series kicked off with South Carolina claiming a decisive 9-2 win over UCLA in Game 1, marking the program’s first win in a super regional. The game drew a sell-out crowd at Carolina Softball Stadium, where the Gamecocks showcased their power hitting and strong pitching. Right fielder Abigail Knight referred to the team’s knack for scoring with two outs, dubbing them the “Two-Out Bandits”.
In the opening game, Lexi Winters ignited the Gamecocks’ offense with a two-run home run in the first inning, helping to establish an early lead. Brooke Blankenship followed suit, doubling down the right field line to bring in Ella Chancey and extend the Gamecocks’ advantage to 3-0. A string of strong two-out performances led to a commanding 5-0 lead, and even though UCLA managed to score two runs in the fourth inning, South Carolina countered to finish the game at 9-2.
Junior pitcher Jori Heard excelled, allowing no runs in the first three innings, striking out two batters before being relieved by Sam Gress, who maintained the lead without conceding further runs. The Gamecocks’ ability to score consistently, particularly with two outs, was a hallmark of their performance throughout the series.
However, in the subsequent Game 2, UCLA bounced back with a narrow 5-4 victory, forcing a decisive Game 3. Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, they could not regain momentum, and UCLA closed the series with a 5-0 win in the final game, securing their spot in the Women’s College World Series. This loss marked the end of the season for South Carolina and their aspirations of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1997.
Despite the disappointment, the season was filled with notable achievements for the Gamecocks, who began with an impressive 20-0 record and finished with a strong showing in Southeastern Conference play, defying predictions that had them finishing at the bottom of the standings. Under the leadership of head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, the team set several program records across various statistical categories.
As the team looks to the future, they are expected to face substantial changes, including the anticipated loss of six starting players. In response, the Gamecocks plan to utilize the transfer portal to improve their roster in preparation for the next season. Coach Woodard expressed gratitude for the progress made this season and pride in the team’s accomplishments, even as they contend with the challenges ahead.
UCLA, after defeating South Carolina, will advance to the Women’s College World Series, where they are set to face 16-seed Oregon in their opening game.
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Additional Resources
- On3: South Carolina Softball Eligibility
- SI: South Carolina Season Recap
- ESPN: South Carolina vs UCLA Game
- Wikipedia: South Carolina Gamecocks Softball
- Google Search: South Carolina Gamecocks Softball
