Jan. 15, 2016

Seven of South Carolina’s softball games have been chosen to air on the ESPN family of networks, the network released on Friday.

Half of the Gamecocks’ SEC games from Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field will broadcast on the SEC Network, while South Carolina returns to ESPNU on Sat., May 7 at Missouri.

Highlighting the Gamecocks’ home games on the SEC Network is a pair of primetime affairs against Georgia on March 20-21, both set for 7 p.m. first pitches. Two of the Garnet and Black’s contests in the SEC opening series against Kentucky will also show on the two-year-old network on March 12-13 at 1 p.m.

The final two games will come on Sun., April 17 at 2 p.m. against Ole Miss and a 12 noon showdown versus Alabama on Sat., April 30. With Saturday’s game in the regular season’s final series at Missouri will be televised in its entirety, ESPN brings its Bases Loaded concept to every game on Sun., May 8, with all 13 SEC teams possibly being shown during the three-hour event.

The ESPN family is slated to show over 70 games this season, including the entire SEC Softball Tournament over May 11-14, which will be hosted by Mississippi State. The first two days of the event will be on the SEC Network, while the semifinals shift to ESPNU. The championship game on May 14 is scheduled for an ESPN broadcast.

South Carolina returns seven starters from last year’s 38-22 squad, the third-consecutive Gamecock team under head coach Beverly Smith to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. SEC Network + broadcast details will be released at a later date.

2016 South Carolina Softball’s TV Schedule

Sat., March 12 vs. Kentucky, SEC Network – 1 p.m.

Sun., March 13 vs. Kentucky, SEC Network – 1 p.m.

Sun., March 20 vs. Georgia, SEC Network – 7 p.m.

Mon., March 21 vs. Georgia, SEC Network – 7 p.m.

Sun., April 17 vs. Mississippi, SEC Network – 2 p.m.

Sat., April 30 vs. Alabama, SEC Network – 12 p.m.

Sat., May 7 at Missouri, ESPNU – 3 p.m.