South Carolina softball defeated South Carolina State 9-1 in a run-rule victory at its final regular-season home game at Carolina Softball Stadium on April 28.
The win was important for the Gamecocks as they concluded their home schedule and prepared for the final series of the regular season. The team improved its record to 30-22 with this result.
Tori Ensley led the offense, going two-for-three with three runs scored and four runs batted in. Ensley’s performance included her second grand slam of the season, marking her thirteenth home run overall and moving her into sixth place all-time in program history. Karley Shelton contributed three hits and an RBI, while Kai Byars added two hits and scored twice.
South Carolina State opened scoring with a run in the first inning, but South Carolina responded quickly. After loading the bases in the second inning, Ensley hit a grand slam to give her team a commanding lead. Tate Davis later hit a two-run pinch-hit home run, and Lexi Shaver scored on a wild pitch to end the game by run rule after six innings.
Emma Friedel earned her tenth win of the season by pitching two scoreless innings in relief and striking out five batters. Nealy Lamb started for South Carolina, allowing one run on five hits while also striking out five. Josey Marron closed out the game with one strikeout in relief.
Arianna Rodi drew two walks during the contest, placing her seventh all-time at South Carolina with ninety-three career walks and third most in a single season with forty-four.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama for its last series of the regular season beginning April 30.
