Skip to main content
Partner logo
Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link
Gamecocks+
Softball Hosts Garnet & Black Invitational Starting Friday
Softball  . 

Softball Hosts Garnet & Black Invitational Starting Friday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team hosts its final tournament of the season with the Garnet & Black  Invitational February 21-23. The Gamecocks will host Boston University, Fordham, and UNLV.

South Carolina Gamecocks 11-0, 0-0 SEC
Coach: Ashley Chastain Woodard | 1st Season
AVG Leader: .586 | Quincee Lilio
Home Run Leader: 3 | Arianna Rodi
ERA Leader: 0.25 | Jori Heard
Strikeout Leader: 33 | Jori Heard
Wins Leader: 5 | Jori Heard

Boston University Terriers 7-2, 0-0 Patriot
When: Feb. 21 | 6 p.m.; Feb. 22 | 1 p.m.
Series History: South Carolina leads 3-0
Last Meeting: South Carolina 3, Boston U 0 (8) | Mar. 14, 2024 | Columbia, S.C.
Coach: Ashley Waters | 10th Season

Fordham Rams 4-6, 0-0 A-10
When: Feb. 22 | 3:30 p.m.
Series History: South Carolina leads 9-1
Last Meeting: South Carolina 8, Fordham 0 (5) | Mar. 19, 2022 | Conway, S.C.
Coach: Melissa Inouye | 7th Season

UNLV Rebels 7-2, 0-0 Mountain West
When: Feb. 23 | 12:30 p.m.
Series History: UNLV leads 4-3
Last Meeting: South Carolina 6, UNLV 0 | Feb. 14, 2003 | Las Vegas, Nev.
Coach: Kristie Fox | 8th Season

LEADING OFF

  • The 2025 season is the 52nd season for the Carolina Softball team.
  • South Carolina entered at No. 21 in the NFCA/USA Today poll. They are ranked in all four of the polls, coming in at No. 22 by Softball America and No. 24 by ESPN/USA Softball and D1Softball.com.
  • A new era of Carolina softball began under Ashley Chastain Woodard when she named the head coach on June 11. She is the 11th head coach in program history.
    • The former Gamecock (2009-11) spent the last five seasons at Charlotte.
    • Chastain Woodard was named the No. 2 head coaching hire by D1Softball.
  • For the first time in program history every game will be televised on the ESPN family of networks and digital platforms.
  • Quincee Lilio has reached based in all 11 games this season and has a 10-game hitting streak. She has also reached base to start the game in eight of Carolina’s 11 contests.
    • Lilio ranks 6th in the nation in walks per game, 8th in on-base percentage and 18th in batting average.
  • The Gamecocks tied a program record with 12 walks against North Carolina.
    • It was the second time this season with double-digit walks.
  • South Carolina has outscored their opponents 92-16 on the season, including 29-0 in the fourth inning alone.
  • Carolina has won the last six games by run-rule and now have seven on the season.
    • The seven run-rule wins are tied for the most in the country and the six in-a-row are tied for second (Stanford, 7).
  • The Gamecocks currently rank 2nd in the nation in double plays with 10.
  • They also rank 2nd in walks with 72.
  • They rank in the top-10 in nine other categories including: double plays per game, doubles, doubles per game, ERA, RBIs, shutouts, on-base percentage, total runs, and winning percentage.
  • Carolina’s roster features 15 newcomers and six returners for the 2025 season.
  • Newcomer first baseman Arianna Rodi was named a Softball America First Team All-American and NFCA First Team All-Region.
    • This preseason she was named the No. 86 overall player by D1Softball and the No. 7 first baseman.
  • Newcomer pitcher Sam Gress was named the No. 30 pitcher entering the season by D1Softball.
  • This preseason Shae Anderson was named to Softball America’s Freshman Watch List.
  • The roster features 21 total players, with nine different states represented.

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME

  • South Carolina is 254-103 (.712) at Carolina Softball Stadium since being built in 2013. That includes a 4-1 record at home while hosting an NCAA regional at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
  • Prior to 2021, South Carolina had not lost double digit games at home in seven years and has won 20 or more eight of the past nine seasons.
  • Since 2016, South Carolina has consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in attendance. Since that time, excluding the 2021 COVID season that limited attendance, they have never finished lower than 15th in average or cumulative attendance.
  • In 2024, Carolina ranked 7th in the nation in total attendance and 14th in average attendance. They were 9th and 11th in 2023, 7th and 13th in 2022, 7th and 11th in 2020, 10th and 13th in 2019, 11th and 13th in 2018, 10th and 11th in 2017, 12th and 15th in 2016.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS IS NOTHING NEW FOR SC

  • South Carolina is 283-73 (.795) over the past nine years in games outside the SEC.
  • Notable wins include Clemson, Boston U, Utah, Texas, Penn State, Houston, Arizona State, North Carolina, Florida State, California, Virginia Tech, USF, Long Beach State, Hofstra, Liberty, and UCF.
  • Carolina will play 33 non-conference games in 2025, 28 of which will be played at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Carolina hosts tournaments… And wins a lot

  • Carolina is an amazing 48-6 over the past seven seasons in the Gamecock Invitational. The 2021 tournament was canceled due to weather.
  • The Gamecock pitching staff has shined in the tournaments. In the games during that span, Carolina pitching staffs have allowed three or more runs 14 times. On the flip side, 12 games have ended as shutouts.
  • Including the Carolina Classic and Black & Garnet Challenge, the Gamecocks are 90-9 in their past 95 home tournament games.

SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL RECORD

  • South Carolina has played 2,647 games in its softball history, going 1,704-936-7 (.645) in its 52 years of history.
  • Carolina has posted 30 or more wins in nine of the past 11 full seasons.
  • Carolina has protected home well, also, with 17 or more victories coming in friendly confines each of the past 10 full years.

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.

Related stories