The No. 9 South Carolina softball team held the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels to just four runs in three games, clinching its fourth consecutive series win. The Gamecocks (30-8, 6-6 SEC) utilized dominant pitching to quiet the bats of the Rebels (29-9, 6-6 SEC) throughout the weekend series.
The pair of wins against the No. 20 Rebels marks South Carolina’s fifth series victory against a top-20 opponent this season.
The Gamecocks won 1-0 in a close game to open the series, lost the second game 2-1 despite a late rally from South Carolina and won the last game 4-2 on Sunday to secure the series win over the Rebels.
Here is a recap of the games:
Gamecocks emerge victorious after an eighth inning defensive battle
In Friday's series opener, the Gamecocks took down the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels 1-0 in a defensive game that was scoreless until the eighth inning.
In the top of the first inning, the Rebels found itself with two singles until sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress threw two straight strikeouts. The Gamecocks couldn’t translate its defense into offense, leaving the first inning scoreless for both teams.
Gress threw another strikeout to begin the second inning and left the Rebels scoreless, but the Gamecocks found itself in the exact same situation as the first inning and couldn’t find any runs in the bottom of the second.
Both teams struggled to score as South Carolina's defense held the Rebels scoreless until the eighth inning and were able to throw 12 putouts by the end of the fourth. Gress had only allowed six hits in seven innings and struck out five batters at this point in the game.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Gamecocks started things off with three straight walks and had the bases loaded. South Carolina got one more walk out of sixth-year outfielder Abigail Knight, to score in freshman outfielder Nia McKnight, winning the game 1-0 after a tough defensive battle, with both teams combining for 10 hits.
Gress ended the game after pitching for seven innings with seven strikeouts and seven hits allowed in eight innings.
“She was brilliant, her command was high,” head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “Pitching and defense, I thought, kept us in the game."
South Carolina drops second game of series
South Carolina was defeated by No. 20 Ole Miss 2-1, in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon.
"I feel really good about what we're doing going into game three," Chastain Woodard said. "This is just how it is in this league. You're playing a top 10 or 15 team every weekend and we kind of just expect it. So we're going to take what we can from it and just ready to play tomorrow."
The Gamecocks quickly loaded the bases with zero outs in the bottom of the first inning, but it was unable to capitalize on the situation with senior infielder Ella Chancey grounding into a double play and Knight flying out to right field.
After two more scoreless frames, the Rebels would strike first in the top of fourth inning with senior catcher Lexie Brady getting the RBI single to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead. South Carolina was unable to respond in the fourth inning following the run.
South Carolina got its first run of the game in the sixth inning. Senior infielder Brooke Blankenship was able to drive in Chancey who scored from second to tie the game at 1-1.
"[Associate head coach] Katie Browder at third was talking to me a lot before that, just making sure that I made a good turn so I could score," Chancey said. "I knew that obviously I was fast enough to do it. So as soon as I saw her sending me, I knew I had a chance to get there."
Ole Miss answered back in the top of the seventh with senior utility player Jaden Pone hitting an RBI single with two outs to take back the lead at 2-1.
The Gamecocks had one final opportunity to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Senior outfielder Emily Vinson drew a walk to start the inning, and advanced to second off of a passed ball.
The Rebels then got two straight outs to bring Rodi to the plate, who was then walked. This brought Chancey back to the plate, however, she grounded out to first base, thus ending the game.
Junior pitcher Jori Heard got the start for the Gamecocks and pitched for three full innings before being relieved in the fourth inning for Gress. Heard ended her day with five strikeouts and two hits. Gress closed out the game with two strikeouts and only allowed four hits despite the loss.
Gamecocks steal the series
During the weekend's final game on April 6, South Carolina claimed the series victory after defeating Ole Miss 4-2.
After a one-run first inning by the No. 20 Rebels, the Gamecocks scored all four of its runs in the bottom of half of the first inning to get out to a 4-1 lead.
With two outs and the bases loaded, a two-RBI double by junior catcher Lexi Winters opened up the scoring for South Carolina. Blankenship followed up the scoring with a two-RBI single during the very next at bat.
Outside of the first inning, the Gamecocks recorded just three hits for the remainder of the game. Sophomore infielder Karley Shelton went a perfect 3-3 at the plate which included her hitting her team-high 14th double of the season.
The four runs were deemed to be enough offensive production to clinch the series for South Carolina, as Heard and Gress allowed a combined seven hits and two runs. The duo cumulatively threw all 22 innings of the series, holding the Rebels to just four runs across the three games.
Heard started the first 5.2 innings of game three, which was good enough to pick up her second win of the series and to improve her record to 13-2 on the season. Gress closed out the final 1.1 innings of the game, which included her working her way out of a jam in the top of the sixth inning.
The Rebels tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning on a RBI-single by freshman infielder Mackenzie Pickens to cut the Gamecock lead down to two runs.
Neither team scored after this run and the game ended with a 4-2 South Carolina win over the No. 20 Rebels.
What’s next?
South Carolina softball hosts the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on April 9 at Beckham Field. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. and can be viewed on SEC Network+.