The No. 10 South Carolina softball team used a dominant pitching performance on Sunday to win a road series against No. 3 LSU over the weekend. The pair of wins marked the first time that the Gamecocks have won a series in Baton Rouge since 1997.
The Gamecocks (27-7, 4-5 SEC) shut down LSU's offense in games two and three, as it held the Tigers (31-4, 6-3 SEC) to four runs over the final two games to win its third straight ranked series. The two teams played a doubleheader on Sunday due to inclement weather on Saturday.
Here's a recap of the games:
LSU dominates South Carolina in game one
In the opening game of the weekend series, the No. 3 Tigers handed the No.10 Gamecocks its first run rule loss of the season in 11-3 fashion. Entering the series, the Tigers’ eight runs per game ranked them tied for ninth in the nation in scoring.
The Louisiana bats got hot early in the game, scoring all of its runs in the first three innings. Sophomore pitcher Nealy Lamb had a rough outing on the mound, giving up four first inning runs while recording just one out.
The Tigers recorded two home runs against the Gamecocks, including a three-run home run by junior catcher Maci Bergeron in the first inning and a grand slam by redshirt freshman utility player Tori Edwards in the second inning.
After trailing 11-0 entering the top of the fifth inning, the Gamecocks added three runs of its own thanks to consecutive RBI’s by redshirt junior utility Quincee Lilio, sophomore infielder Karley Shelton and junior infielder Adrianna Rodi.
LSU's junior pitcher Sydney Berzon allowed just six Gamecock baserunners during her five innings on the mound resulting in her fourteenth win of the season.
Gamecocks comeback to win game two in extra innings
On the front half of a March 30 doubleheader, the Gamecocks tied the series at one apiece after defeating the No. 3 Tigers 5-3 in eight innings.
South Carolina struck first in the top of the first inning when back-to-back errors by LSU’s defense resulted in Rodi scoring the opening run.
The Tigers eventually knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning on an infield single by LSU redshirt senior infielder Danieco Coffey.
After a fourth inning where the Gamecocks went scoreless after stranding two runners in scoring position, the Tigers claimed its first lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a solo home run by sophomore utility player Savanna Bedell.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Gamecocks rallied to score two runs. Shelton’s team-high 13th double of the season scored the tying run, while a single by Ella Chancey two batters later gave South Carolina a 3-2 lead.
South Carolina’s one-run lead was not enough to seal the game as the Tigers sent the game to extra innings after a sacrifice fly tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Gamecocks responded quickly in the extra inning, tacking on two runs to extend its lead to 5-3. A single by senior infielder Brooke Blankenship gave the Gamecocks its initial lead, while Shelton drew a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to bring in an additional run.
South Carolina held onto the lead this time around by holding the Tigers scoreless in the bottom half of the extra inning en route to a 5-3 victory, handing LSU its first home loss of the season.
Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress went the distance for the Gamecocks in this one, as she threw 130 pitches across all eight innings. The Charlotte transfer struck out seven batters in the process while improving her record to 8-3 on the season.
South Carolina silences LSU's offense to win series
South Carolina took advantage of LSU freshman pitcher Jayden Heavener's mistakes in the first two innings of game three. The Gamecocks scored in the first when sixth-year outfielder Abigail Knight walked with the bases loaded, scoring Lilio.
Both teams added a run in the second. Senior outfielder Emily Vinson worked a leadoff walk in top of the inning, then scored after Lilio hit an RBI-single. LSU scored its only run of the game in the bottom half when Bedell hit an RBI-groundout.
Senior pitcher Jori Heard started for the Gamecocks in game three, giving up one run on four hits in six innings. Heard also struck out five batters while walking two.
The Gamecocks extended its lead in the fifth and sixth. Rodi opened the fifth with a double. Junior catcher Lexi Winters later singled, scoring freshman outfielder Chloe Lacksey, who pinch-ran for Rodi. Freshman catcher Mya Flindt pinch-hit for Blankenship in the sixth and hit a solo home run, making it a 4-1 game.
The Tigers hit back-to-back singles with two outs against Gress in the seventh, who relieved Heard. Gress ended the rally attempt when she struck out Coffey, clinching the series for the Gamecocks.
Rodi went 2-2 with a double and a walk, while Lilio and Winters both finished 1-3 with an RBI. The Tigers outhit the Gamecocks 6-5, but went 0-5 with runners in scoring position. The series win over LSU is the Gamecocks' fourth ranked series victory this season.
What's next?
South Carolina returns home on Wednesday to face the Wofford Terriers. First pitch from Beckham Field is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.