Gamecocks Set to Host NCAA Regional Starting Friday Against Elon

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 8 seed South Carolina Gamecocks kick off the NCAA Tournament when they host the Columbia Regional May 16-18. Carolina begins the tournament by taking on Elon Friday at 5:30 p.m. Virginia and North Florida will faceoff at 3 p.m. Friday to open the tournament.

South Carolina Gamecocks 40-15, 13-11 SEC
Coach: Ashley Chastain Woodard | 1st Season
AVG Leader: .373 | Quincee Lilio
RBI Leader: 50 | Arianna Rodi
Home Run Leader: 16 | Arianna Rodi
ERA Leader: 2.71 | Jori Heard
Strikeout Leader: 103 | Jori Heard
Wins Leader: 16 | Jori Heard

Virginia Cavaliers 37-17, 14-10 ACC
Coach: Joanna Hardin  | 9th Season
Series History: South Carolina leads 34-5
Trend: South Carolina won 18
Last Meeting: South Carolina 5, Virginia 4 | Feb. 7, 2025 | Columbia, S.C.

North Florida Osprey 45-13, 22-2 A-Sun
Coach: Jeff Conrad | 3rd Season
Series History: South Carolina leads 7-1
Trend: South Carolina won 5
Last Meeting: South Carolina 5, North Florida 2 | Mar. 26, 2015 | Columbia, S.C.

Elon Phoenix 33-19, 21-6 CAA
Coach: Kathy Bocock | 15th Season
Series History: South Carolina leads 3-1
Trend: South Carolina won 2
Last Meeting: South Carolina 14, Elon 1 | Mar. 5, 2021 | Chapel Hill, N.C.

LEADING OFF

• The 2025 season is the 52nd season for the Carolina Softball team.
• The Gamecocks are a national seed for the first time in modern program history (since Super Regionals began in 2005).
• This will be the ninth time hosting an NCAA Regional in program history.
  • 8 seed is the second highest in program history behind No. 2 seed in 1997.
  • Carolina is looking to advance to the Super Regional for the third time in program history (2007, 2018).
• Carolina is making their 25th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
  • All-time in the NCAA Tournament, South Carolina is 50-52.
• Carolina has the third most wins against Top-25 RPI teams in the nation (17), trailing only No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M (19) and No. 2 seed Oklahoma (18).
  • Their 31 games against Top-25 RPI opponents is tied for the most (Missouri).
• The Gamecocks had a final strength of schedule of 4 and a non-conference strength of schedule of 12.
• With the win over Alabama on May 3, head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard becomes the winningest first-year head coach in program history with 39 wins.
  • She surpassed Judy Martino (38, 1979).
• With the series win over #19 Alabama, the Gamecocks now have six series wins over top-20 opponents.
  • They also have four series wins over top-15 opponents.
• South Carolina ranks 7th in the country with 16 comeback wins on the season.
• The Gamecocks set a program record for walks in a season against Auburn.
• With a walk in game one against Auburn, Arianna Rodi set a new single-season program record with her 43rd walk. She currently has 45.
  • Quincee Lilio also surpassed the previous record and now has 43 on the season.
  • Rodi set a new program record with her 16th home run of the season in the sixth inning against Alabama in the SEC Tournament. She tied the record in the fifth inning.
  • She is 10th the nation in walks per game.
  • She had her on-base streak end at 37 games, second longest in recorded history.
  • Rodi hit a home run in five straight games (Feb. 25 – Mar. 5), which is tied for the 14th longest streak in NCAA Division I history.
• Brooke Blankenship ranks 3rd in the nation in sacrifice flies.
  • Her eight sac flies are tied for 2nd in a single season in program history.
  • Her 13 career sac flies are second all-time in Carolina history.

This Is Carolina – Tradition Lives Here

• South Carolina has made 25 trips to the NCAA postseason, a number that started in 1982. The Gamecocks have reached two super regionals and three WCWS. In conference play, Carolina owns two SEC Championships.
• The Gamecocks also made five AIAW College World Series appearances prior to the NCAA sanctioning softball as an NCAA sport in 1982.
• They have made the tournament 10 of the last 12 seasons.
• Carolina in the postseason season holds a 48-50 record all-time.
• Fans and opponents have become accustomed to seeing the Gamecocks play on Sunday in the postseason. Carolina reached the regional final four-straight years (2016-19) and again in 2023 and 2024. The Gamecocks are 3-5 in those past eight Sunday games.
• Since 1982, the Gamecocks are 3-14 against host schools. On the flip side, South Carolina is 18-11 at home in the postseason.

Carolina Hosting NCAA Regional’s

• This will be the second time the Gamecocks have hosted an NCAA Regional at the Carolina Softball Stadium since it was built in 2013.
• The Gamecocks hosted the 2018 Columbia Regional, which they won, comeback to defeat Liberty twice on Sunday.
• South Carolina previously hosted three Regional Tournaments at Beckham Field (1997-2012) 1997, 2002, and 2007.
• The Gamecocks won the 1997 and 2007 Regional’s, but fell to No. 1 UCLA 1-0 in the championship game of the 2002 tournament.
• Carolina also hosted NCAA Regional tournaments in 1982, 1983, 1994, and 1995.
• The Gamecocks won the best-of-three series over Central Michigan in 1983.
• They fell to Creighton in a best-of-three series in 1982, while UCLA claimed the 1994 and 1995 (later vacated) Regionals.

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.