The South Carolina softball team lost its final regular season game to No. 4 Alabama by a score of 4-3 on May 2.
Arianna Rodi led the Gamecocks with two hits, including her eleventh home run of the season, which gave South Carolina an early lead in the second inning. The home run was also the twenty-eighth of her career at South Carolina, moving her into sixth place all-time for the program and tying her for eighth in single-season home runs.
The Gamecocks extended their lead later in the second inning after Emma Lilio drew a two-out walk—her eighty-third career walk, placing her tenth all-time at South Carolina—and Karley Shelton hit what was initially ruled a double that allowed Lilio to score. Alabama responded in the third inning with two bases-loaded walks and a single to take the lead. The Crimson Tide added another run in the fourth following an error and a single.
Shelton narrowed Alabama’s lead with a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning, marking her seventh homer of the year. Jori Heard took the loss for South Carolina after pitching three and one-third innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out five batters and walking five.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will face Ole Miss in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on May 5, with game time yet to be determined.
