No. 10 South Carolina softball run-ruled Charleston Southern 12-0 in five innings on Wednesday night behind a dominant offense performance early.
The Gamecocks scored nine runs over the first two innings, while sophomore pitchers Nealy Lamb and Kadie Becker held the Buccaneers to one hit.
South Carolina jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first with five hits from the Gamecocks. Sophomore infielder Karley Shelton hit an RBI-double, then junior catcher Lexi Winters doubled, scoring two runs. Senior infielder Brooke Blankenship later hit a two-RBI triple and scored on redshirt junior infielder Natalie Heath's sacrifice fly.
"We really went out and made it happen," head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. "I was glad to see that we had a dominating performance, which I think we really needed on a Wednesday because the last couple, I don't feel like we've been as dominating."
Sophomore pitcher Nealy Lamb made her 12th start of the season against the Buccaneers, giving up zero runs or hits in three innings. Lamb recorded four strikeouts and one walk.
South Carolina scored three runs in the second. Winters was walked with the bases loaded, followed by senior infielder Ella Chancey hitting a two-RBI double, extending the Gamecocks' lead to 9-0.
"We walked nine times," Chastian Woodard said. "We struck out once as an offense, so it's a good day when you do something like that."
The Gamecocks added three more runs in the fourth when freshman utility player Shea Anderson hit a 2-RBI double, then scored after a throwing error.
Becker relieved Lamb in the fourth and struck out one over two innings. Junior infielder Lorenzza Maracci singled in the fifth for Charleston Southern's first hit of the game, but Lamb recorded two quick outs to clinch the 12-0 win in five innings.
"I was really proud of Kadie Becker there in the two innings she threw, giving up only one hit," Chastain Woodard said.
Lamb faces former team
Lamb competed against her former school on Wednesday. Lamb spent the 2024 season at Charleston Southern where she had a record-breaking campaign. Lamb was the first player in Big South conference history to be named Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-Conference in one season.
"Sometimes it's a little strange playing your previous team," Chastain Woodard said. "I thought she did a great job at just managing her emotions. She threw three innings, no hits, she had four strikeouts and threw a lot of strikes."
Lamb moves to 8-2 on the season with a 2.79 ERA. She's totaled 68 strikeouts to 19 walks. Opponents are hitting .187 against her, which leads the pitching staff.
Lamb’s game comes down to trusting herself, she said.
"Trusting our process and our system and knowing that they're good enough," Lamb said.
Offense explodes with extra-base hits
The Gamecocks finished with nine hits, including five doubles and a triple. Four Gamecocks finished with multiple RBIs, including Chancey, who went 2-3 with a double and two RBIs. Blankenship finished 1-2 with a triple and two RBIs, while Winters went 1-1 with three RBIs.
"They really just rooted themselves in their swing decisions," Chastain Woodard said. "They swung at strikes, they took balls and they put themselves in position to barrel up a lot of good contact."
Non-conference success
South Carolina moves to 24-2 in non-conference games this season, including a 6-1 record in midweek games. The Gamecocks' only midweek loss was to Coastal Carolina 5-3 on March 12.
"We don't prepare any different for Charleston Southern than we would for Arkansas this weekend," Chastain Woodard said. "It's the same conversations, the same preparations. I think when you have that level of professionalism, you don't ever put yourself in a position to not be prepared."
What's next?
South Carolina (31-8, 6-6 SEC) returns to conference play this weekend when it travels to No. 12 Arkansas (29-8, 8-7 SEC). First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.