Gamecocks Host No. 4 Alabama in Weekend Series

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team is set to host the 4th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide for an SEC series March 25-27 at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. The Gamecocks and Tide have not met since 2019. Pre-sale tickets for all three games are sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be available at the gate prior to each game.
 
Gameday Information
When: March  25 | 6 p.m.; March  26 | 2 p.m.; March  27 | 1 p.m.
Where: Columbia, S.C.
Venue: Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field (1,480)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Video: SECN+ Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Series History: Alabama leads 43-20
Last Meeting: South Carolina 2, Alabama 0 | March 7, 2019 | Columbia, S.C.
 
South Carolina Gamecocks
18-10, 2-4 SEC
Coach: Beverly Smith | 12th Season
AVG Leader: .395 | Riley Blampied
RBI Leader: 28 | Jordan Fabian
Home Run Leader: 10 | Katie Prebble
ERA Leader: 2.24 | Rachel Vaughan
Strikeout Leader: 44 | Bailey Betenbaugh
Wins Leader: 5 | Kelsey Oh
 
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide
25-4 3-3 SEC
Coach: Patrick Murphy | 24th Season
AVG Leader: .403 | Ally Shipman
RBI Leader: 32 | Ally Shipman
Home Run Leader: 5 | Megan Bloodworth
ERA Leader: 1.53 | Montana Fouts
Strikeout Leader: 128 | Montana Fouts
Wins Leader: 13 | Montana Fouts
 
Leading off

• Alabama leads the all-time series 43-20
• The Gamecocks have won three of the last four meetings.
• Carolina won the series in 2019, 2-1 in Columbia.
• In Columbia, South Carolina trails in the series 11-20.
• The 10 home runs by Katie Prebble through her first 24 games were the most by any Gamecock in recorded history (since 1982). Through 28 games, only Alaynie Page (2015) had more (11).
• Her 10 home runs already rank tied for seventh in a single season.
• The 108 walks by Carolina hitters are the most to start as season under Smith. Jordan Fabian’s 19 and Hannah Kumiyama’s 18 are second and third, respectively. They trail only Mackenzie Boesel’s 24 from last season.
• The 12 stolen bases by Jordan Fabian through 28 games are the most since Samie Garcia (15) and Alaynie Page (13) in 2013. 
• Freshman Emma Sellers’ 27 hits through 28 games are the most by a freshman since Mackenzie Boesel had 29 hits in 2017.
• The 45 stolen bases by Carolina are the most to start a season since stealing 56 in 2013. It’s the third time under Smith they’ve stolen at least 45 (2011, 13)
• The 176 RBIs are the most through 28 games since 2019, and are third most under Smith through 24 games (2013, 179; 2019, 182).
• The Gamecocks opened the season at home for the third straight year. Last season the team opened the season with Carolina Classic, but was canceled due to weather. 
• South Carolina has opened the season at home in 7 of 12 seasons under Bev Smith.
• The 2022 roster features 22 total players. A total of seven different states are represented.