Gamecocks Fall to Bruins in NCAA Regional Final

LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 seed South Carolina softball team (32-28) fell to No. 2 seed UCLA (50-8) 15-1 in six innings Sunday afternoon (May 17) in finals of the Los Angeles Regional.

In the bottom of the second, Arianna Rodi drew a walk, her 49th of the season, tying her own program record she set last season. That put runners on first and second after a hit by Tate Davis, but the Gamecocks were unable to push a run across.

The Bruins got a two-run home run in the second after the Gamecocks made an error to extend the inning. They added a grand slam in the fifth to extend the lead.

South Carolina got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Rodi drew her record-breaking 50th walk of the season. One out later, pinch hitter Kai Byars was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Lilio came through with her fifth RBI of the weekend, a single to right, scoring pinch runner Nia McKnight.

UCLA added nine runs in the top of the sixth to put the run rule into effect. Jori Heard (12-13) took the loss in her final appearance as a Gamecock. She struck out three in 4 1-3 innings.

The Gamecocks end their season 32-28 in Ashley Chastain Woodard’s second season in Columbia. They advanced to their fourth straight NCAA Regional Final.

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.