The No. 11 South Carolina softball team (24-6, 2-4 SEC) took a 2-1 series victory against the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders (24-9, 5-1 Big 12) over the weekend at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The Gamecocks took the first game 5-2 on Friday night, followed by a tight 1-0 victory on Saturday afternoon behind a stellar performance from junior pitcher Jori Heard to clinch the series. The Gamecocks dropped the final game of the series 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.
Here's the full recap of the weekend series:
South Carolina defense performs well in first game against Texas Tech
South Carolina took down No. 12 Texas Tech 5-2 to take the first game of the series.
The Gamecocks scored first after junior catcher Lexi Winters hit for an RBI double to score senior infielder Ella Chancey to give South Carolina an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Gamecocks held the Red Raiders to a scoreless inning after the run scored.
In the second inning, South Carolina went up 2-0 on a groundout RBI from senior outfielder Emily Vinson to score sixth-year outfielder Abigail Knight. After the second inning, the Gamecocks struggled to score with back to back scoreless innings in the third and fourth.
Texas Tech found its footing in the fifth inning with two RBIs from redshirt sophomore infielder Lauren Allred, tying the game 2-2.
The Gamecocks answered in the bottom half with two RBIs off Chancey’s hit to left field South Carolina added another run from senior infielder Brooke Blankenship’s sacrifice fly to right field, and ended the inning with a 5-2 lead.
Neither team scored the remainder of the contest.
The Gamecocks’ defense held Texas Tech to 0 runs until the fifth inning after 21 putouts to close out the game behind a joint-effort from Jori Heard and sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress.
"I think we were ramped up for it, just playing really good defense (and) having really good communication," head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. "I thought that all the decisions that were made really worked out for us."
The Gamecocks' defense communicated to secure the eight fly balls that Texas Tech hit at them, so that they could keep the momentum in their favor.
Gamecocks shut out Red Raiders in game two to clinch series
South Carolina clinches the series in a game two win over the Red Raiders.
Both pitching staffs held the opponents' offense in check, as the two teams combined for five hits. Heard made her 11th start of the season for the Gamecocks, giving up two hits and a walk in three innings.
Junior pitcher NiJaree Canady started for the Red Raiders, holding the Gamecocks to one run while striking out nine in six innings. Canady retired the first six batters she faced, including five strikeouts.
South Carolina scored the deciding run when redshirt junior infielder Natalie Heath hit a solo home run in the third inning, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
"A lot of respect for her and her talent, for sure," Chastain Woodard said. "She doesn't get beat often, so just really happy for Natalie Heath."
South Carolina threatened to extend its lead in fifth after Knight worked a leadoff walk. Freshman outfielder Nia McKnight, who pinch-ran for Knight, later advanced to second, giving the Gamecocks a runner in scoring position with one out. Canady ended the threat with two quick outs, including a strikeout to end the inning.
"You've got to be okay with striking out against her," Chastain Woodard said. "You've got to be able to learn from at-bat to at-bat, because she's going to get hers. Just trying to keep the morale high, reminding everyone of the plan."
Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress earned the win as a relief pitcher, giving up one hit while striking out two in four innings. The Red Raiders looked to tie the game in the seventh when senior infielder Alexa Langeliers hit a two-out single. Gress ended the game when she forced junior utility player Alana Johnson to pop out, clinching the win for the Gamecocks.
"It's our entire pitching staff just trying to pass the ball, trying to do it for each other," Gress said. "Knowing that they have my back, I have their back. Whoever's out there, it's not just one person out there. The four of us are out there with them."
Gamecocks fall in close game to finish out series
After clinching the series Saturday, the Gamecocks dropped game three, 6-5.
“Super disappointed. I mean, I totally thought we beat ourselves, kind of a blunder of a game for us," Chastain Woodard said. "(We) just talked through just the immaturity that I think that showed through, which is really uncharacteristic of this group.”
Sophomore pitcher Nealy Lamb made her first start of the season for the Gamecocks and made quick work on the mound, sitting down the first three batters she faced.
A pair of two-out singles from Chancey and Blankenship, along with a walk from Winters loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning for Knight. Knight hit a two-RBI single to put the Gamecocks up 2-0, with Heath following with a two-RBI single of her own to bring the lead to 4-0 in the first.
The Gamecocks continued its offensive production in the third inning with walks from Winters and Blankenship to quickly put runners on with no outs. Heath doubled to push another run across the plate, giving the Gamecocks a 5-0 lead.
Texas Tech scored its first run of the game following a sac fly from freshman outfielder Kiley Huffman. Two more runs were scored, courtesy of an RBI double by Langeliers, cutting the Gamecocks lead to two in the fourth.
The Red Raiders took the lead in the top of the fifth inning after a three-run rally. A leadoff walk and two singles loaded the bases for the Red Raiders, with an RBI single driving in the first run of the inning. The Red Raiders would then score two more runs following two challenged calls at home plate to take a 6-5 lead.
The Gamecocks struggled to find momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning after Canady struck out the side, ending the game with a 6-5 Texas Tech victory.
What's next?
The No. 11 Gamecocks (24-6, 2-4 SEC) will be back at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field on Tuesday night to take on the Clemson Tigers (24-9, 6-3 ACC) in the Palmetto Series. The game will begin at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on SEC Network+.