Winters Walks It Off in 12th Inning for No. 21 Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the longest game in Carolina Softball Stadium history, No. 21 South Carolina (21-10, 1-3) walked off No. 22 LSU (19-10, 1-6) in the 12th inning for a 6-5 win Friday night (Mar. 20).

The 12-inning game is the longest for Carolina since a 12-inning, 6-4 win at Clemson two years ago to the day on March 20, 2024. It was also the tied for the third longest game this season in Division I.

Karley Shelton and Arianna Rodi led the way with three hits on the night. Quincee Lilio, Tori Ensley, Tate Davis, and Lexi Winters all added two hits. Davis and Winters both had two RBIs on the night.

The Gamecocks took an early lead with a pair of solo home runs in the second. Davis took the second pitch of the inning over the netting and onto the track in left field 247 feet for her fifth home run of the season. One out later it was Jamie Mackay with her third home run of the season over the wall in right center.

LSU gained the lead in the third, with all three runs coming with two outs. The Gamecocks tied it back up in the bottom half of the inning. Lilio led off with a bunt single and Shelton followed with a single to center to put runners on the corners. Ensley brought Lilio home on an RBI groundout to second.

The Tigers got a two-run home run in the fifth to retake the lead.

It would be short lived once again as the Gamecocks tied it back up in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Carolina got three straight singles from Ensley, Rodi, and Davis to bring home a run. After a pitching change, Winters welcomed the new pitcher with a double to right center, scoring Rodi and tying the game.

That’s the way the score would stay for the next six and a half innings. Both teams had their chances in the extra frames but were unable to deliver the game-winner. That was, until the bottom of the 12th.

With one out, Rodi singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Down to their final out, it would be Winters, the hometown kid, coming through once again for the Gamecocks. After an LSU defensive conference, Winters hit the very next pitch into to center to bring Rodi home from second and send the Carolina bench onto the field in celebration.

Nealy Lamb (4-4) earned the win in relief, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing only one hit and striking out four. Jori Heard threw seven innings of relief scattering seven hits and two runs as she struck out six.

Game two of the series will be Saturday (Mar. 21) at 3 p.m.

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.