South Carolina, softball coach Beverly Smith part ways

South Carolina parted ways with softball coach Beverly Smith, according to an announcement from the school. Over the course of her 14-year stint as the coach, Smith went 461-323. But now, there’ll be a change for the Gamecocks’ program.

Smith’s 461 wins at South Carolina are second in school history, behind Hall of Fame coach Joyce Compton’s 951 victories.

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The school listed plenty of accomplishments from Smith in her long career:

“Smith was named Carolina’s softball coach on July 15, 2010,” the release read. “In her 14 seasons as the program’s head coach, the Gamecocks had a 461-323 (.588) overall record and a 102-219 (.318) mark in the Southeastern Conference.  Her 461 wins at South Carolina is second in school history, behind Hall of Fame coach Joyce Compton’s 951 victories.

“South Carolina went to the post-season nine times, advancing to a Super Regional in 2018, which was the best finish in Smith’s tenure, finishing with a 49-17 overall mark and a third-place finish in the SEC with a 15-9 mark. Smith coached two NFCA All-Americans, 10 All-SEC and 15 All-Region players.

“This past season, Carolina finished 36-24 overall, 8-16 in SEC play and concluded its season in the NCAA Durham Regional. The team was ranked as high as 17th in national polls and finished the regular season with a No. 27 NCAA RPI Ranking.

“Since softball became an NCAA Championship in 1982, South Carolina’s softball program has been to 24 NCAA Regionals, winning five regional titles and advancing to the College World Series three times, the latest in 1997.”

South Carolina and Smith saw the season end to Duke in the NCAA Regional final.

“The Blue Devils scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead,” the game recap read. “Carolina answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Laneaux led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Cummings laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the Duke second baseman was unable to handle the throw, allowing Laneaux to score.

“The score remained 2-1 heading to the seventh, but Duke scored eight runs in the top of the inning to put the game out of reach.

“Making her final appearance of her collegiate career, All-American Alana Vawter (17-13) threw 6 1-3 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out four. The Gamecocks end their season with 36 wins, the ninth time with 34 or more wins under head coach Beverly Smith.”