South Carolina softball went 5-0 in the Gamecock Invitational to open up its season. In a five-game stretch that took place over a four day period at Beckham Field, South Carolina defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 7-6 and 5-4, Providence Friars 8-0, Saint Francis Red Flash 7-0 and the East Carolina Pirates 1-0.
South Carolina's success during the Gamecock Invitational has nearly boosted the squad into national rankings, as the Gamecocks have received top 25 votes in the D1 Softball, USA Today and ESPN polls.
“We’re learning how to win together, there’s an art to that,” head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “I’m just really proud of them. I thought that we learned a lot of lessons.”
The Gamecocks were tested by the Cavaliers to begin its season, winning both of its matchups against Virginia by one run in walk-off fashion.
During South Carolina's 7-6 opening night victory on Feb. 6, sophomore infielder Karley Shelton put a ball in play to force a fielder's choice error to seal the comeback victory for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina had trailed 6-2 entering the seventh and final inning of the game but rallied to score five runs en route to the team's first win of the season.
The following night on Feb. 7, South Carolina defeated the Cavaliers 5-4 in extra innings. After junior catcher Lexi Winters tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a three-run home run, senior infielder Brooke Blankenship propelled the Gamecocks to the win with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Through the first two games of its season, the Gamecocks' resilience was put on full display. The Gamecocks were able to overcome consecutive multi-run deficits and make big plays on offense and defense in the clutch, outscoring the Cavaliers 9-1 in the sixth inning or later during both of its matchups.
“I was really proud of the guts they had, just showing a ton of resilience,” Chastain Woodard said. “Winning is tough, beating an opponent multiple times is tough, coming back and winning the game on a walk-off is tough. I’m just super proud of them. I think they have a ton of belief in themselves and each other.”
The bats of South Carolina were able to get hot late in games and lead the team to several victories. The Gamecocks were also able to score runs in bunches, with five different innings of scoring at least three runs during its opening tournament, three of which contained five or more runs.
Redshirt junior utility player Quincee Lilio led the team in hits during the opening weekend. The leadoff hitter went 9/14 in her first five games as a Gamecock, recording a hit in each. The Oklahoma transfer had a .750 on-base percentage during the Gamecock Invitational, as she drew six walks.
"I think we started off very, very strong, and that's just how the rest of the season's going to look," Lilio said.
After allowing six and four runs, respectively, in the two games against Virginia, the Gamecocks' pitching staff tightened up and shut out their next three opponents. The pitching rotation for the tournament consisted of sixth-year Sam Gress, junior Jori Heard, sophomore Nealy Lamb, sophomore Kadie Becker and freshman Olivia Kotowski.
Heard, who pitched 4.0 innings of relief in the first two games, got credited for both of the pitching staff’s wins against Virginia. Heard then pitched a complete shutout game against East Carolina on Feb. 9, striking out 10 players in the process. The junior pitcher has only allowed 10 batters on base and one earned run through her first 15.0 innings on the mound in 2025 while also starting her season with a 3-0 record.
“For myself, I think I’m just another pitcher like everyone else trying to get the job done,” Heard said. “I’m just going in confident knowing whatever I’m throwing, my teammate has my back — all of them.”
Lamb, who made her first-ever start for the Gamecocks on Feb. 7 against Virginia, threw four innings while allowing three earned runs en route to the 5-4 victory. When she returned to the mound the next day against Saint Francis, she recorded five shutout innings that included seven strikeouts on the way to her first-ever win as a Gamecock pitcher.
Through her first five games as South Carolina's softball head coach, Chastain Woodard has staffed five ladies to manage the pitching rotation. Other than Heard, who pitched the whole game against East Carolina, Chastain Woodard has staffed two pitchers for each game, with the starter pitching the first three to five innings.
“I’m really excited about staffing (the pitching rotation),” Chastain Woodard said in a previous news conference. “If you follow us all season long, you’re going to see that we really play to the matchup.”
What's Next?
South Carolina softball looks to stay perfect when Georgia State visits Beckham Field on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.. This game kicks off the Carolina Classic, a series in which the Gamecocks will host five games in four days.