UCLA shuts out South Carolina 5-0 to advance to WCWS for record 33rd time
COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) – The South Carolina softball team (44-17) dropped the third game of the Super Regional matchup against UCLA (52-11) Sunday afternoon (May 25) 5-0 to end the season.
The Bruins jumped to an early lead in the first after three consecutive hits to start the game.
Sam Gress (14-11), who got the start for the Gamecocks kept the Bruins from adding on any more through the fourth. In the fifth, Gress finished her 4 2-3 inning outing with five runs and two hits.
Jori Heard entered the circle in the fifth, finishing the last out of the inning and tossing a clean sixth inning.
The Gamecocks offense had its best chance in the bottom of the sixth with Quincee Lilio and Lexi Winters on base but ultimately Carolina was unable to push across a run. Winters, Ella Chancey, Emily Vinson and Brooke Blankenship all had a hit on the day.
Ultimately, UCLA added on a three-run seventh inning to give the Bruins a 5-0 lead and seal the game.
The Gamecocks finished its first season under head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard with 44 wins, the most for a first-year head coach in program history.
The historic season for Carolina comes to a close with their first Super Regional appearance since 2018. The team broke the single season record for RBIs, runs, walks, doubles and tied the record for sacrifice flies. Arianna Rodi set the single season program record for home runs and walks and finished third all-time for RBIs. Lexi Winters also ended the season fifth all-time for RBIs in a season.
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