SEC Softball Tournament: South Carolina, Texas A&M delayed due to lightning in extra innings

South Carolina and Texas A&M were in the midst of an extra-innings thriller in the first round of the SEC softball tournament on Wednesday. However, the rest of the game had to wait.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning — just after the Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead — play was suspended due to lightning in the area of Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Teams must wait 30 minutes after the last strike to start play again, per NCAA rules.

Just before the umpires suspended play, Riley Blampied got South Carolina on the board with the game’s first run. She hit a single to right field to bring Emma Sellers around to score and give the Gamecocks the lead in the first extra inning.

Extra innings already would’ve had an effect on the SEC softball tournament action for Wednesday, and the lightning delay might further hinder things. No. 5 seed Alabama was supposed to take on No. 13 seed Missouri at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 8 seed Florida vs. No. 9 seed Kentucky 35 minutes after. Because the game is running long, first pitch between Mizzou and Alabama is set for 35 minutes after South Carolina vs. Texas A&M ends. As a result, Florida vs. Kentucky will be delayed, as well.

South Carolina, Texas A&M took part in a thriller in first round of SEC softball tournament

South Carolina squared off in quite the pitchers’ duel to send the game to extra innings. Both starting pitchers left early, but the relievers picked up right where they left off.

For South Carolina, Karsen Ochs started in the circle, allowing two hits in 2.2 innings before Donnie Gobourne took over. She threw 4.1 innings of relief, striking out five and sending down nine straight batters to help keep Texas A&M off the scoreboard to keep it a 0-0 tie entering extra innings.

Shaylee Ackerman threw 4.0 innings to start the game for Texas A&M and didn’t allow a hit before Emiley Kennedy took over in the fifth inning. She threw 3.0 innings of relief and stayed in the circle for the eighth inning, where she ran into trouble. Kennedy hit two batters and allowed the RBI single to Blampied before lightning caused the delay.

That single was just the Gamecocks’ third of the game, and Texas A&M only had two hits through the first seven innings.

This story will be updated.