South Carolina softball defeated South Carolina State 9-1 in its final regular-season home game at Carolina Softball Stadium on April 28.
The victory, achieved by run rule, was highlighted by Tori Ensley’s performance. Ensley went two-for-three with three runs and four runs batted in. Her grand slam in the second inning was her second of the season and her thirteenth home run overall, moving her into sixth place all-time for the program.
Karley Shelton contributed three hits and an RBI, while Kai Byars added two hits and scored twice. The Gamecocks responded quickly after South Carolina State took an early lead with a run in the first inning. In the bottom half of that frame, Ensley drew a walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored during a rundown play initiated by Shelton.
In addition to Ensley’s grand slam, Tate Davis hit a two-run pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning—her fifth this season. The Gamecocks secured their victory in the sixth when Lexi Shaver scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Emma Friedel earned her tenth win of the year by pitching two innings of relief without allowing any hits or runs and striking out five batters. Nealy Lamb started for South Carolina and allowed one run over five hits with five strikeouts. Josey Marron closed out the game with one strikeout in the final inning.
Arianna Rodi drew two walks during the game; she now ranks seventh all-time for career walks at South Carolina (93) and third for single-season walks (44).
Looking ahead, South Carolina will travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama for its last series of the regular season beginning April 30 at 7 p.m.
