Gamecocks To Start SEC Play In Athens

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- No. 15 South Carolina softball is set for its first true road game of the 2020 season as its set to open conference action at No. 13 Georgia this weekend with a three-game series starting Friday. First pitch on Friday in Athens, Ga., is scheduled for 6:00 PM with the trio of games continuing Saturday at 2:00 PM. The series concludes Sunday at 2:00 PM.
 
All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Kaleb Frady and Karlie Smith on the call. Live stats for the series will be provided on gamecocksonline.com, as well.
 
Carolina comes into conference play with a 14-4 record having won nine of its past 10 games after Wednesday night’s game against College of Charleston was canceled due to inclement weather around the state of South Carolina.
 
 THE GAMECOCKS

• South Carolina comes into the 2020 season looking to build off a 38-19 season in which it reached the regional championship for the fourth-straight season.
• Carolina welcomes four newcomers (Ellie Bailey, Bailey Betenbaugh, Hannah Kumiyama, Karsen Ochs) as well as Baylor transfer Kassidy Krupit to a roster that will be looking to replace two starters (Kennedy Clark in the outfield and Dixie Raley in the circle).
• The Gamecocks return one of the most experienced middle infields in the country with Kenzi Maguire and Mackenzie Boesel. The two have combined for 352 games played and 348 starts heading into their senior campaign. Broken down, that means the pair has combined to play in 72 percent of all South Carolina games the past four years.
• Head coach Beverly Smith returns for her 10th season leading the Gamecocks. She’s guided the Gamecocks to seven-straight NCAA trips and four-consecutive regional championships, both of which are school records.

 SUPER QUICK HITTERS

• The first two innings have been ultra-important to the Gamecocks this season. Through 18 games, they’re outscoring foes 56-3 in those two frames with just three runs allowed in the first.
• Calling the home run play has led to Carolina wins, as well. South Carolina is 11-1 this season when hitting at least one home run.
• Good defense wins games and the Garnet and Black are proving it this year. Carolina is 10-1 when zero errors are committed.
• Looking at just home games, South Carolina is scoring quickly and often. As a team the Gamecocks have outscored opponents 86-27, including a 54-1 advantage in the first two innings.

CAROLINA IN THE SEC

• South Carolina comes into the 2020 Southeastern Conference softball portion of the schedule with a 259-349 (.413) record all-time in the SEC.
• The Gamecocks have won the SEC once in program history (1997, the first year of the conference). Carolina went 25-1 that year in SEC play on its way to a first-place finish in the SEC East Division.
• Carolina has won 20+ SEC games in a season two times (1997 and 2002) and has won 10+ 13 times (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2018).
• The Garnet and Black posted a 9-14 record last year in the SEC on its way to an 11th-place finish.

 GAMECOCKS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS

• South Carolina is 141-323-1 (.293) against opponents ranked in the NFCA top 25 since 1995.
• Broken down by site, the Gamecocks are 67-104 (.358) at home, 32-147 (.154) on the road and 43-71-1 (.407) in neutral-site outings.
• During the notable 2018 season, the Gamecocks went 8-14 against ranked teams, including an 8-1 record in home games. The Gamecocks notably swept Tennessee and Mississippi State in home series against ranked teams last year. The Gamecocks also took two of three games against Arkansas, as well.
• Last season, the Gamecocks went 8-15 against ranked foes, including a huge series win over Alabama at home after dropping the Friday night game.