No. 11 South Carolina softball shuts out Clemson, builds on Gamecocks’ resurgent season

The emergence of South Carolina softball took another step in the right direction on Tuesday night.

Nealy Lamb pitched five shutout innings and Arianna Rodi set the tone early offensively as the Gamecocks handled Clemson 6-0 in the first game of the two-game Palmetto Series.

South Carolina has won two of the last three in the all-time series after losing five in a row to the Tigers coming into last season.

“To have a win like that against Clemson, you feel like it’s for the fans, for the community and everyone that’s supported us ever since day one,” South Carolina coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “It’s really special, and the way we won the game makes it a little sweeter.”

Chastain Woodard played at South Carolina, but the Tigers didn’t have a softball team during that time frame. Winning her first outing against Clemson as the Gamecocks coach was not lost on her.

“I think this is the best rivalry in college sports,” Chastain Woodard said. “It’s really special for me to feel that in the dugout and as a coach. It’s just something in the air for that game. It’s special and I will never forget it.”

Lamb, who grew up in Cades, South Carolina and starred at Williamsburg Academy before playing one season at Charleston Southern, knew the importance of the victory. She grew up a South Carolina fan and only learned earlier in the day she would be the starting pitcher.

“I didn’t know I was going to start but I really wanted to start,” Lamb said. “I’ve grown up a Gamecock fan my whole life. Clemson is a big rivalry for us and just being able to go out there and do my job and help my team win is huge for me.”

Chastain Woodard thought Lamb was the difference-maker. She allowed two hits in five innings with four strikeouts and a couple of walks.

“Nealy (Lamb) got us there with six outs left,” she said. “She gave us her heart. She was 8-years old and learning a rise ball, dreaming of pitching in this game.”

South Carolina (25-6) has been one of the surprise teams in the country this season, winning a school-record 20 in a row to start the season and coming from being unranked in the preseason to climbing to No. 11 in the country by ESPN and D1 Softball.

The Gamecocks have three series wins over Top 15 teams — Duke, Georgia and Texas Tech — and claimed this one over the Tigers. They lost three games against No. 2 and defending national champion Oklahoma, all by one run, in early March to open SEC play. But they’ve rebounded of late and won five of seven, with six of those games coming against ranked opponents.

The SEC has the top five teams and 12 ranked teams overall in the latest Top 25 poll.

“It doesn’t get easier, week by week,” Chastain Woodard said. “We’re far from the Oklahoma game at this point.”

Game recap

This one might have been over before everyone settled into their seats at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Lamb retired Clemson (24-10) in order in the top of the first. South Carolina then had a 3-0 lead just three batters into the bottom half.

Quincee Lilio opened the bottom of the first with a hard-hit ball that was unable to be fielded at short. Karley Shelton, who played at Lexington High, followed with a walk before Rodi blasted her team-best 11th home run onto the TV deck in left-center field for a quick 3-0 lead.

Rodi has been out with an injury for a little over a week but stepped back in brimming with confidence.

“I took in all the moments from early in the year and just realized hitting was just like riding a bike. I felt comfortable,” Rodi said. “We put a stamp on it in the first inning is always a good thing. It showed them we wanted to control the tempo and how it’s going to go.”

Rodi, who extended her reaching base streak to 23 straight games, added a sacrifice fly to score a run, Shelton delivered two RBIs to round out the scoring in the eight-hit attack for the Gamecocks.

The two teams meet again on April 15th at Clemson.

Gamecocks Softball Upcoming Schedule

Friday at No. 3 LSU, 6 p.m.

Saturday at No. 3 LSU, 7 p.m.

Sunday at No. 3 LSU, 2 p.m.