Softball Set for Top-25 Road Matchup With Blue Devils

DURHAM, N.C. – The 19th ranked South Carolina softball team travels to 8th ranked Duke for a three-game series Feb. 28 – March 2. All three games will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Gameday Information
When: February 28 | 6 p.m.; March 1 | 1 p.m.; March 2 | noon
Where: Durham, N.C.
Venue: Duke Softball Stadium (500)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Video: ACCNX Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Series History: Tied 3-3
Last Meeting: Duke 10, South Carolina 1 | May19, 2024 | Durham, N.C.

#19 South Carolina Gamecocks 16-0, 0-0 SEC
Coach: Ashley Chastain Woodard | 1st Season
AVG Leader: .587 | Quincee Lilio
RBI Leader: 18 | Quincee Lilio
Home Run Leader: 5 | Arianna Rodi
ERA Leader: 0.51 | Jori Heard
Strikeout Leader: 46 | Jori Heard
Wins Leader: 8 | Jori Heard

#8 Duke Blue Devils 13-3, 0-0 ACC
Coach: Marissa Young | 8th Season
AVG Leader: .500 | Aminah Vega
RBI Leader: 19 | Aminah Vega
Home Run Leader: 2 | Ana Gold
ERA Leader: 1.5 | Sophie Garner-MacKinnon
Strikeout Leader: 49 | Cassidy Curd
Wins Leader: 5 | Cassidy Curd

All-Time Series (3-3)
H: 2-1  A: 0-2   N: 1-0

LEADING OFF

• The 2025 season is the 52nd season for the Carolina Softball team.
• South Carolina entered at No. 19 in the NFCA/USA Today poll. They are ranked in all four of the polls, coming in at No. 17 by Softball America and No. 21 by ESPN/USA Softball and D1Softball.com.
• For the first time in program history every game will be televised on the ESPN family of networks and digital platforms.
• Jori Heard was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 24).
  • Heard went 3-0 on the week with a 0.00 ERA. She struck out 12 over 15 innings pitched, allowing five hits and two walks.
  • Opposing batters hit .100, while she did not allow an extra base hit.
• Quincee Lilio has reached based in all 16 games this season and has a 15-game hitting streak.
  • She also has 9 multi-hit games on the season.
  • Lilio leads the nation in the nation in on-base percentage, 5th in batting average and hits, and 9th in the nation in walks per game.
• Ella Chancey has also reached base in all 16 games this season.
  • She ranks 7th in the nation in doubles, 16th in doubles per game, and 28th in walks per game.
• Karley Shelton has reached base in 14 straight games and Arianna Rodi in 11.
  • Shelton leads the nation in doubles.
  • She also ranks 10th in doubles per game 3rd in runs and 4th in runs per game.
  • Rodi ranks 6th nationally in walks per game.
• Jori Heard ranks 3rd nationally in wins, 5th in shutouts, and 13th in ERA and WHIP.
• Nealy Lamb ranks 6th in the nation in WHIP, 17th in hits per game, 18th in strikeout to walk ratio, and 19th in strikeouts per game.
• Carolina defeated Charlotte Tuesday, hitting seven doubles in the game. That’s tied for the second most in a game this season in Division I.
• The three doubles in the game by Shelton were the most since Evan Childs against Longwood on Feb. 16, 2010.
• 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 out-scored their opponents 137-24 on the season, including 34-0 in the fourth inning alone.
• Carolina had the nation’s longest run-rule streak of nine games end against UNLV.
• As a team the Gamecocks lead the nation in doubles, on base percentage, and walks.
• They also rank 2nd in doubles per game, 3rd in RBIs, 4th in shutouts and ERA, 5th in double plays and RBIs per game, 6th in total runs, 7th in sacrifice flies, 8th in scoring and 9th in batting average.
• They also rank in the top-20 in four other categories: fielding percentage, hits, slugging percentage, and WHIP.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS IS NOTHING NEW FOR SC

• South Carolina is 288-73 (.797) 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.

GAMECOCKS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS

• South Carolina is 171-397-1 (.301) against opponents ranked in the NFCA top 25 since 1995.
• Broken down by site, the Gamecocks are 82-138 (.373) at home, 43-184 (.189) on the road and 47-74-1 (.389) in neutral-site outings.
• In 2024, the Gamecocks went 9-20 against ranked opponents. They earned victories over #21 Kentucky (twice), #10 Florida, #17 Arkansas, #16 Mississippi State (twice), #11 Clemson, #24 Boston U and #13 Utah.
• In 2023, the Gamecocks went 12-16 against ranked opponents.

SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL RECORD

• South Carolina has played 2,652 games in its softball history, going 1,709-936-7 (.646) 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.