Chastain Woodard Named Coach of the Year by D1Softball

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina softball first-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard was named the national Coach of the Year by D1Softball Wednesday (May 28).

Under Chastain Woodard’s leadership, the Gamecocks set or tied five team records and earned a national seed for the first time in modern program history. The team was ranked as high as No. 9 during the season in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.

She led Carolina to its first NCAA Super Regional appearance since 2018 and their third appearance overall (since 2005). The Gamecocks finished the season 44-17 overall and 13-11 in SEC play. They were picked to finish 15th in the SEC but instead had their first winning SEC record since 2018 and their second in the last 22 years. The 44 overall wins are the most for a first-year head coach in program history and the second most since 2002

For the season, Carolina has four series wins over top-15 opponents and six series wins over top-20 opponents. The Gamecocks started the season 20-0, tying a program mark from 1976 for the best start. They ended the regular season with the third most wins against top-25 RPI teams in the nation (17) and the 31 games against top-25 RPI opponents was tied for the most. They also had an overall strength of schedule of four and a non-conference strength of schedule of 12.

As a team, South Carolina set new program marks for runs (363), RBIs (342), walks (256), doubles (98), and fielding percentage (.980). They also tied the mark for sacrifice flies (26). The 29 doubles played turned is tied for second all-time. The 33 errors committed are the second fewest, trailing only the 2020 COVD-19 shortened season. The eight saves recorded by the pitching staff rank tied for fourth, while the 15 stolen bases allowed are the fifth fewest ever.

Individually, Arianna Rodi (49) and Quincee Lilio (45) both broke the previous mark for walks in a season, while Rodi also sent a new program record with 17 home runs.

Chastain Woodard concluded her sixth season a head coach with an overall record of 198-113. She made her first NCAA Super Regional appearance as a head coach and her third consecutive NCAA appearance.

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.