The South Carolina softball team lost to the Clemson Tigers 2-1 in extra innings on Tuesday night at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, splitting the series at one game apiece.
The two teams played earlier this season on March 25 at the Carolina Softball Stadium, where the Gamecocks went on to win 6-0.
In the first inning, South Carolina was able to get runners on the corners. But after senior infielder Ella Chancey struck out and junior infielder Arianna Rodi was caught stealing second, the Gamecocks left the inning with zero runs to show for it.
Junior pitcher Jori Heard made history for herself in the bottom of the first, earning her 200th career strikeout.
Just like the first inning, the Gamecocks got runners on the corners but were unable to come away with any runs after senior outfielder Emily Vinson grounded out to third in the second.
Rodi scored the first run of the game for either side with a solo home run to put the Gamecocks up 1-0.
In the bottom of the third, Vinson made a huge play on defense, robbing what would have been a three-run home run for the Tigers.
The Gamecocks came up with another big play on defense in the bottom of the fifth as the team forced a double play, its 24th of the year.
Clemson answered back in the sixth inning with freshman infielder Marian Collins hitting a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.
In the seventh inning, both teams failed to break the stalemate, forcing the game into extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth inning from both sides, Clemson ended the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after Collins hit her second solo home run of the game to help the Tigers win 2-1.
Rivalry matchup going the distance
With tonight's game going to extra innings, this is now the second straight year that at least one of the two games has gone longer than seven innings.
Last year on March 20 at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, the Gamecocks won a 12-inning contest against the Tigers. In the 12th inning of that game, South Carolina was able to score three runs to help win the game 6-4.
This is also the second straight year that a point is not awarded to either school in the Palmetto Series, a competition between the two schools that awards a point for a head-to-head win.
Because softball played multiple games, a point would have only been awarded if one school had swept the other.
Rodi closing in on history
Despite the loss, Rodi’s 13th home run of the season moved her to just two shy of tying the school record for most home runs in a single season. Heading into tonight's game, Rodi was tied for 59th in most home runs this season by an individual player.
In her sophomore season at Charlotte, Rodi finished the season with 22 home runs, ranking her second in school history for home runs in a single season.
Pitching gives up timely hits
Aside from the walk-off home run, South Carolina’s defense was able to keep Clemson’s offense at bay for much of the evening.
Heard began the game for South Carolina and pitched for a little over two innings. She gave up three hits and two strikeouts, with 20 of her 27 total pitches finding the strike zone.
Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress was subbed in to replace Heard in the third. Gress only managed to strike out two batters and gave up six hits, with two of them being home runs.
What's next?
The Gamecocks will be back in action this upcoming weekend for a home series against Kentucky. The first game of the series will be on April 19, with first pitch at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.