The South Carolina softball team, ranked No. 21 nationally, will host Georgia Southern on March 18 at Carolina Softball Stadium with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will feature a giveaway of green “Lucky to be a Gamecock” T-shirts to the first 300 fans in attendance.
This matchup continues a long-standing series between the two teams, with South Carolina holding a commanding lead of 45-1 over Georgia Southern. The Gamecocks have won the last four meetings, including their most recent contest on Feb. 22, 2023, when they secured a 3-0 victory in Statesboro, Georgia.
South Carolina enters the game with a record of 19-10 overall and is led by head coach Ashley Woodard in her second season. Key players include Quincee Lilio, who leads the team with a .415 batting average; Karley Shelton, who has driven in 32 runs; and Arianna Rodi and Tori Ensley, each with six home runs. Pitcher Jori Heard leads the team with an earned run average of 1.50, while Emma Friedel tops both strikeouts (53) and wins (8).
Georgia Southern comes into the contest at 12-14 under head coach Sharon Perkins. Their top performers include Jaycee Bilbrey (.391 average), Delanie Thames (25 RBIs and six home runs), and Bailey Holland (3.05 ERA, tied for most strikeouts at 27 and leading with five wins).
The Gamecocks are currently ranked No. 21 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), No. 24 by USA Softball/ESPN, and No. 25 by D1Softball polls this week. They also hold the No. 32 spot in Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) with an overall strength of schedule ranked at No. 24.
Historically strong at home, South Carolina boasts a record of 293-117 (.715) since moving into Carolina Softball Stadium in 2013 and has consistently been among national leaders in attendance figures over recent seasons.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will continue its non-conference schedule as part of its ongoing efforts to build on its successful history that includes more than thirty wins in ten of the past twelve full seasons.