The South Carolina softball team is preparing for its 2020 season after a 38-19 season in 2019, when it advanced to its fourth-straight regional final.
South Carolina released its schedule Nov. 18 which features 34 games against teams who made the NCAA Tournament, 15 games against teams who made the super regionals and eight games against teams who qualified for the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma State.
The Gamecocks will begin their season Feb. 7 at Beckham Field against North Dakota State. The team begins SEC play March 6, when it travels to face the Georgia Bulldogs.
South Carolina went 18-8 last season against teams on the 2020 schedule.
One game that stands out on the 2020 schedule is a rivalry matchup against the Clemson Tigers on April 7 at 6 p.m. This is Clemson’s first year with a softball team.
South Carolina also signed nine players in the offseason, which is the largest class head coach Beverly Smith has signed in her time in Columbia.
“They add depth at every position,” Smith said in a press release. “This class is chalked full of talent with athletes that I expect to contribute immediately. This a group of high character people from great families who will make you proud on and off the field.”
South Carolina’s 2020 roster features four seniors: Lauren Stewart, Kenzi Maguire, Mackenzie Boesel and Cayla Drotar.
"Yeah, it is crazy but it's also exciting,” Boesel said in a press release on seeing the word “senior” in front of her name. "Everything's gone by so fast and I'm just excited to make this last year my best year."
Here are the four seniors’ 2019 stats:
Stewart: .293 batting average, seven home runs and 29 RBIs
Maguire: .321 batting average, five home runs and 27 RBIs
Boesel: .356 batting average, eight home runs and 37 RBIs
Drotar (batting): .288 batting average, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs
Drotar (pitching): 12-9 record, 2.73 ERA with 34 appearances and 14 saves