5 things to know about South Carolina softball to get you caught up for NCAAs
South Carolina softball is gearing up for a postseason run starting this weekend.
The Gamecocks, led by first-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, are the No. 8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. As a result, South Carolina will host a four-team regional and have the opportunity to host a two-team super regional should the Gamecocks advance this weekend.
It’s the first time in seven years the Gamecocks have hosted the NCAA Tournament.
If you’re a casual softball fan — or even a die-hard fan of anything related to Gamecocks sports — this procrastinator’s guide will get you caught up.
The season’s schedule, best wins
The Gamecocks enter the NCAA Tournament with a 40-15 record and 13-11 mark in SEC play. South Carolina is ranked in the Top 25 of several various softball polls — the highest being No. 12 and lowest being No. 14.
South Carolina is ranked No. 8 in adjusted RPI. USC had six series wins over nationally ranked teams and is 17-14 vs. teams in RPI Top 25. Those 17 wins are third-most in the country.
On a wider scope, South Carolina is 25-15 vs teams in RPI Top 100.
The Gamecocks had one of the harder schedules of any team in the country. South Carolina was No. 4 in strength of schedule, largely due to the dominance of the SEC that sent 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament, and its non conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 12.
Some specific impressive victories include a win over North Carolina, a series sweep of Duke and series wins over Georgia, Texas Tech, LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama.
Big moments for Gamecocks
South Carolina in the SEC preseason poll was picked to finish last in the league and instead has put together one of the better seasons in the program’s recent history.
The Gamecocks opened the year on a 20-0 run, which tied the program record for best start to a season.
South Carolina finished seventh overall in the SEC after compiling a 13-11 league record. It’s just the second time in the last 22 years USC has finished with a winning record in conference play. The last time the Gamecocks accomplished the feat was in 2018; before that the last time was 2003.
Chastain Woodard broke a record at the conclusion of the regular season. South Carolina’s 40 wins this year are the most by a first-year head coach since Judy Martino won 38 games in 1978.
First baseman Arianna Rodi has proven to be a force at the plate this year for the Gamecocks. The junior, who followed Chastain Woodard from Charlotte to South Carolina, has hit 16 home runs, a new program single-season record.
Rodi has also recorded 46 walks this season, also a program record.
History in the NCAA Tournament
This is South Carolina’s third-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and the 25th total trip in program history.
The last time the Gamecocks hosted an NCAA Tournament regional was in 2018. Before that the last time they hosted a regional was in 2007.
As the No. 8 national seed, South Carolina is in line to host a super regional for the first time if they advance in the bracket. The Gamecocks have made the supers twice (2007 and 2018) since that format was introduced in 2005.
South Carolina traveled to Evanston to face Northwestern in the 2007 super regional and Tempe to face Arizona State in the 2018 supers.
South Carolina is looking to make its fourth trip to the Women’s College World Series. The Gamecocks haven’t made it that far in the postseason since 1997. The two other appearances came in 1989 and 1983.
The 1997 team boasted a 63-5 record — still the best mark for the program — while the 1989 team’s record of 46-12 is more similar to this year’s team.
About Ashley Chastain Woodard
Chastain Woodard has hit the ground running in her first year as head coach at South Carolina.
She came to Columbia after a five-year stint as head coach at Charlotte. While with the 49ers she recorded a 154-96 record and made the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024.
Before her first head coaching gig at Charlotte, Chastain Woodard was an assistant at College of Charleston, Michigan State and Ole Miss.
Chastain Woodard is no stranger to Columbia. She pitched for the Gamecocks for three years during her college days and got her start in coaching as a graduate assistant for South Carolina.
Players to watch
Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress: Gress was the lone Gamecock to earn All-SEC honors. She was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the All-Defensive Team and has posted a 3.12 ERA and 12-9 record.
Junior first baseman Arianna Rodi: Rodi is one of the better power hitters in the SEC. She boasts a .739 slugging percentage, hits .333 and set a single-season program record for home runs (16).
Redshirt junior utility player Quincee Lilio: South Carolina’s leadoff batter is also its most consistent hitter. Lilio, an Oklahoma transfer, leads the team with a .373 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage.
Sophomore infielder Karley Shelton: Shelton is No. 2 on the team with a .354 batting average and leads the team with 64 hits. She’s totaled 18 doubles this year, which leads the SEC and is fifth-most in a single season in program history. Shelton played at nearby Lexington High School.
Junior pitcher Jori Heard: South Carolina’s other ace on its pitching staff is Heard. She has a 16-3 record and 2.71 ERA. Heard has thrown 124 innings this season, second only to Gress (130) on the team.
Columbia Regional schedule
All games played at Carolina Softball Stadium. TV or streaming details listed where available. Full bracket can be seen here.
Game 1: Virginia vs North Florida (Friday at 3 p.m., streaming on ESPN+)
Game 2: Elon vs South Carolina (Friday at 5:30 p.m., streaming on ESPN+)
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2 (Saturday at 1 p.m.)
Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 2 (Saturday at 3:30 p.m.)
Game 5: Winner of Game 4 vs Loser of Game 3 (Saturday 6 p.m.)
Region final: Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 5 (Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2)*
*if necessary, second game of regional final will be played Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
