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Heath, Gress lift No. 11 South Carolina to series clinching win over No. 12 Texas Tech

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•03/22/25•

BradyVernon

Screenshot 2025-03-22 at 1.59.26 PM
Courtesy of South Carolina Athletics

If you were looking for a slugfest, Columbia, S.C. was not the place for you on Saturday. The two Top-15 teams combined for four hits as No. 11 South Carolina beat No. 12 Texas Tech 1-0 to claim the non-conference series.

After being a late scratch on Friday, NiJaree Canady did get the ball against the Gamecocks’ offense, which is without All-American Arianna Rodi this weekend. Canady was clearly still favoring her lower half that she hurt in an at-bat against North Texas a few weeks ago.

However, you’d never know in the box score. Canady struck out nine hitters against a lineup that doesn’t tend to rack up the Ks. She yielded one hit but that was ultimately the difference. Natalie Heath barreled up a 0-2 riseball from Canady down the left-field line and found its way out for a solo home run. That was Heath’s six home run of the season and the first Canady has allowed as part of the Red Raiders.

Meanwhile, Texas Tech didn’t have much offense either. Mihyia Davis led off the game with a single against South Carolina starter Jori Heard. Davis was erased on a fielder’s choice and South Carolina turned a double play to end the frame. Heard walked a batter in the second but rolled another groundball double play. Heard tossed another scoreless inning before turning the ball over to Sam Gress as she did in Friday’s win.

Gress was basically perfect in her outing, earning her second win of the weekend. She retired the first 11 batters she faced until Alexa Langeliers hit an infield single with two outs in the seventh. Gress got Alana Johnson to pop up and end the game.

South Carolina will seek the sweep on Sunday at noon ET. Nevertheless, the Gamecocks continue to prove they’re one of the best teams in the nation. A win over Canady is very impressive and a series win without your best bat is a huge thing. For Texas Tech, it is concerning that Canady was nearly perfect and still lost the game, especially with her less than 100%.

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