Columbia, SC—-South Carolina’s midweek matchup against Youngstown State was initially expected to be a simple tune-up before conference play. However, after an early scare, the Gamecocks quickly took control, securing a dominant 10-2 victory Wednesday night at Beckham Field and extending their undefeated streak to 20-0.
Early Hurdle, Quick Response:
The Penguins (2-14) wasted no time putting pressure on the Gamecocks, striking first with two runs in the opening inning. Freshman pitcher Olivia Kotowski, making only her second career start, surrendered three consecutive singles before Bree Kohler’s bloop hit to left field brought home Youngstown State’s first run.
A sacrifice fly by Elyssa Imler doubled the visitors’ lead, giving the Penguins an early 2-0 advantage.
South Carolina, however, responded immediately. Leadoff hitter Quincee Lilio drew a walk to extend her season-long on-base streak. Moments later, an error allowed Karley Shelton to reach safely, setting the stage for a power display.
Rodi Sparks the Offense:
Arianna Rodi, fresh off being named SEC Co-Player of the Week, stepped up and delivered a thunderous three-run homer over the left field fence, her ninth of the season and fifth in the last five games.
The fireworks continued when Natalie Heath launched a solo shot to open the bottom of the second, pushing the Gamecocks ahead 4-2.
Strong Pitching Shuts the Door:
The Gamecocks then switched gears, using small ball to extend their lead. With the bases loaded, Brooke Blankenship legged out an infield single, allowing Lilio to score and putting South Carolina up 5-2.
The Gamecocks then switched gears, using small ball to extend their lead. With the bases loaded, Brooke Blankenship legged out an infield single, allowing Lilio to score and putting South Carolina up 5-2.
Youngstown State attempted to mount a response in the third inning, putting Kotowski under pressure again. A pair of walks placed two runners aboard with no outs, prompting head coach Chastain Woodard to call upon Nealy Lamb in relief.
Lamb immediately took control, striking out three straight batters to escape the jam unscathed. She continued her dominance over two perfect innings, retiring all six hitters she faced while racking up three strikeouts.
Smart Baserunning and More Runs:
South Carolina’s aggressive baserunning paid off in the bottom of the third. After a single by Shelton, she found herself caught between first and second but managed to retreat safely when no defender covered first base. Meanwhile, Knight had already scored from second, and Lilio capitalized on the distraction to dash home, stretching the lead to 7-2.
The Gamecocks weren’t done yet. In the fourth inning, Lexi Winters ripped an RBI double, Lilio added a run-scoring single, and Shelton contributed a sacrifice fly, padding the lead to 10-2.
Kadie Becker took the circle in the fifth to close things out. Much like Lamb, she was flawless, retiring all three batters she faced to seal the win.
Next Up: A Top-Tier Clash:
With non-conference play behind them, the Gamecocks now shift their focus to a highly anticipated showdown against Oklahoma. The three-game series in Norman will feature the last two unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I softball.
Game one is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed by matchups on Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (2:30 p.m.). Fans can catch all the action live on SEC Network+.
