Gamecocks Advance to NCAA Regional Final with Win Over UNF

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 8 seed South Carolina softball team (42-15) used late inning heroics to power a 3-0 win over North Florida (46-14) Saturday (May 17) at Carolina Softball Stadium in the Winner’s Bracket game of the NCAA Columbia Regional.

The game began a pitcher’s duel, with both teams going scoreless through five innings. Sam Gress got the start for the Gamecocks, scattering six hits, three walks and four strikeouts over a scoreless 4 2-3 innings. Jori Heard (18-4) entered the circle in the fourth and pitched a clean game the rest of the way, giving up no hits and no runs.

The Carolina offense came alive in the sixth inning. Arianna Rodi drew a one-out walk. Ella Chancey doubled down the right field line, as pinch runner Chloe Lackey rounded third, she was able to score on a throwing error to put the Gamecocks on the board.

The Ospreys initiated a pitching change after a walk to Brooke Blankenship put runners on the corners. North Florida surrendered another walk to Abigail Knight that loaded the bases for Emma Sellers. Sellers singled through the left side to plate Chancey and Blankenship and give Carolina a 3-0 lead.

Heard made quick work of UNF in the seventh, sending them down in order to advance Carolina to the Regional Final.

The Gamecocks will look to win the Columbia Regional Sunday and advance to Super Regionals with an opponent to be determined following the final two games on Saturday. The first game Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. at Carolina Softball Stadium. A second, if necessary, game will follow immediately after.

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.