Gamecocks hosting UCLA in NCAA softball super regionals. Here’s what to know
South Carolina softball is back in an NCAA Tournament Super Regional for the first time in seven years after beating North Florida 8-0 on Sunday.
It’s just the third supers appearance in South Carolina’s program history and the first time the Gamecocks have hosted this round of the NCAAs.
The No. 8-seeded Gamecocks will welcome No. 9 UCLA to Carolina Softball Stadium this weekend for a best-of-three series with a spot in the Women’s College World Series on the line.
Should the Gamecocks advance, it will be the first time since 1997 that they’ve made it to the WCWS.
Columbia Super Regional softball schedule
All games played at Carolina Softball Stadium. TV or streaming details listed where available. Full bracket can be seen here.
Game 1: South Carolina vs UCLA (Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. on ESPN2)
Game 2: South Carolina vs UCLA (Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. on ESPN)
Game 3: South Carolina vs UCLA (Sunday, May 25 at TBD)*
*if necessary
Get to know South Carolina
Record: 43-15, 13-11 SEC
Resume: No. 8 in adjusted RPI, 17-14 vs teams in RPI Top 25, 25-15 vs teams in RPI Top 100, No. 4 in strength of schedule, No. 12 in nonconference strength of schedule.
How they got here: The Gamecocks were picked to finish last in the SEC in the league’s preseason poll but are now one of the 16 teams in the entire country remaining in the NCAA Tournament. This is South Carolina’s third appearance in the super regionals in program history. The last time came in 2018. Head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard and her team have set several team records in her first year at South Carolina. The Gamecocks started 20-0 this season, tying the program record for best start, and Chastain Woodard set a new program record for wins in a coach’s first year.
Regional recap: South Carolina swept the Columbia regional. The Gamecocks beat Elon 5-2 in game one and then beat North Florida 3-0 in game two. South Carolina rematched with North Florida in the regional final on Sunday and won that game 8-0 in five innings.
Players to watch: Senior infielder Brooke Blankenship (.285) and sixth-year outfielder Abigail Knight (.312) were the only players to record multi-hit games for USC in the regional. Blankenship finished with 4-for-8 from the plate in the three games with three RBIs. Knight was 3-for-8 with three RBIs as well. ... Sam Gress and Jori Heard continued to be pitchers to watch for the Gamecocks during the regional. Gress (13-9, 2.93 ERA) totaled 8.2 innings across two games and gave up zero runs in the process while striking out five batters and allowing nine hits. Heard (18-3, 2.53 ERA) totaled 8.2 innings across three games allowing zero runs and just one hit while striking out six batters. ... Other top players due for a big game are utility player Quincee Lilio (.360 batting average), infielder Karley Shelton (.349) and first baseman Arianna Rodi (.336).
Get to know UCLA
Record: 52-10, 17-5 Big Ten
Resume: No. 6 in adjusted RPI, 9-5 vs teams in RPI Top 25, 30-10 vs teams in RPI Top 100, No. 14 in strength of schedule, No. 32 in nonconference strength of schedule.
How they got here: UCLA finished No. 2 during the Bruins’ first year as members of the Big Ten. The Bruins beat Indiana and Nebraska before being upset by No. 8 seed Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament Championship. UCLA’s résumé was good enough to land them the No. 9 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins hosted a regional for the 11th straight season. This is their 15th all-time super regional appearance.
Regional recap: Much like South Carolina, UCLA swept its regional. UCLA defeated all of its opponents by run rule. The Bruins beat UC Santa Barbara 9-1 in six innings in game one and beat San Diego State 10-0 in six innings in game two. UCLA beat UC Santa Barbara again in the regional finale 12-1 in five innings to punch its ticket to the supers.
Players to watch: UCLA had four players land on the All-Big Ten First Team this season. Senior utility player Savannah Pola leads UCLA with a .437 batting average and is No. 4 in the country with 90 hits. Junior utility player Megan Grant sports a .377 batting average and leads the team with 25 home runs (No. 4 in the country). Junior infielder Jordan Woolery is No. 2 on the team with a .423 batting average and is behind Grant in home runs with 22 (No. 9 in the country). ... Junior pitcher Taylor Tinsley rounds out UCLA’s All-Big Ten First Team selections. Tinsley holds a 14-4 record and 2.47 ERA this season.
This story was originally published May 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM.
