Softball Begins SEC Series at Missouri Friday

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The South Carolina softball team heads west for an SEC series at Missouri April 17-19. Saturday’s game will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network.

SERIES INFORMATION
Series History: Missouri leads 19-9
Trend: Missouri won 9
Last Meeting: Missouri 5, South Carolina 2 (10) | May 5, 2025 | Columbia, S.C.

RV South Carolina Gamecocks 24-20, 3-12 SEC
Coach: Ashley Woodard | 2nd Season
AVG Leader: .357 | Quincee Lilio
RBI Leader: 34 | Karley Shelton and Tori Ensley
Home Run Leader: 8 | Tori Ensley
ERA Leader: 1.72 | Jori Heard
Strikeout Leader: 87 | Jori Heard
Wins Leader: 8 | Emma Friedel

Missouri Tigers 23-22, 6-9 SEC
Coach: Larissa Anderson | 8th Season
AVG Leader: .333 | Stefania Abruscato
RBI Leader: 39 | Abby Carr
Home Run Leader: 11 | Abby Carr
ERA Leader: 2.23 | Abby Carr
Strikeout Leader: 91 | Marissa McCann
Wins Leader: 9 | Cierra Harrison

LEADING OFF

• The 2026 season is the 53rd season for the Carolina Softball team.
• This week in the polls the Gamecocks are ranked No. 25 in the USA Softball/ESPN and are receiving votes from the NFCA polls.
• They’re 27th in the RPI with an overall strength of schedule of 2.
• The Gamecocks have played more Top-25 RPI opponents than any other Division I program (22) and 6 more games still to play against Top-25 RPI teams.
  • The next closest is 19 by Texas A&M.
• The schedule also features five of the Top-6 RPI teams and six of the Top-8, the most of any program, Missouri is just behind with five of the Top-8
• Based on current opponent winning percentage, the Gamecocks have the second toughest schedule in the nation. Opponents have a combined winning percentage of .674 (Arkansas, .683).
• They also have the 13th toughest schedule remaining, with opponents having a combined winning percentage of .713.
• Carolina opened SEC play with the defending National Champion for the second straight season. They opened 2025 at Oklahoma.
• The Gamecocks are one of three teams in the nation with seven pitchers who have earned a win on the season (UCF, South Dakota State).
  • All seven Carolina pitchers on staff have earned at least one victory.
• Arianna Rodi hit her 50th career home run against Queens on March 1.
  • She currently sits 14th among active NCAA players in career home runs.
  • Rodi also ranks 5th among active NCAA players in career walks.
  • Quincee Lilio is 32nd among active NCAA players in career walks.
• Jori Heard ranks 28th among active Division I players with a 2.38 career ERA.
  • Nealy Lamb also ranks 47th with a 2.6 ERA.
• As a team, South Carolina ranks 33rd in the nation in double plays with 19.
• The Gamecocks rank among the top-40 in: ERA, fielding percentage, hit batters, and hit by pitches.
• Arianna Rodi currently is 21st among Division I players with 0.84 walks per game.
  • Quincee Lilio is 33rd with 0.77 walks per game.
• Jori Heard ranks 24th in ERA with a 1.72.
• Lexi Winters is third in the SEC with six runners caught stealing.
• The walk-off win in the 12th inning against LSU was South Carolina’s longest game since a 6-4, 12-inning win at Clemson two years to the day, March. 20, 2024.
  • The 12-inning game was the longest game in Carolina Softball Stadium history.
  • It’s also tied for the fifth longest game in Division I this season.

SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL RECORD

• South Carolina has played 2,742 games in its softball history, going 1,762-973-7 (.644) in its 53 years of history.
• Carolina has posted 30 or more wins in 10 of the past 12 full seasons.
• Carolina has protected home well, also, with 17 or more victories coming in friendly confines each of the past 11 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.