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No. 10 South Carolina softball shuts out No. 25 Clemson at home

by:Peyton Butt•03/25/25
Nealy Lamb

South Carolina softball took an early commanding lead in the first inning and never looked back, ultimately shutting out Clemson 6-0 while allowing just five hits.

After missing the entire series against Texas Tech, junior transfer Arianna Rodi returned in dominant fashion. In her first at-bat, Rodi hit a three-run homer to give South Carolina an early lead.

“Just really excited to come out there and put a stamp on it in the first inning is always a good thing. Show them, we want to control the tempo of this game, of how it’s going to go and we’re going to win it. I think just overall excitement to put our stamp on the game and tell them how this game was going to go,” Rodi said.

At the plate, sophomore Karley Shelton earned two RBIs off of two hits in just three at bats. Rodi had four RBIs of her own to end the night.

Sophomore Nealy Lamb commanded the mound going five innings with four strikeouts. Lamb gave up just two hits and no runs.

“Really proud of Nealy Lamb, the way that she pitched,” head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “She got us there with six outs left, and we obviously went with Gress at that point. But Nearly gave us her heart, through most of the game. You know, she’s eight years old, learning how to throw a rise ball, and dream of pitching in that game, and so to see that kind of just come to fruition, I think it’s just really special for her.”

Lamb, a lifelong Gamecock, felt a personal connection to the rivalry victory.

“It feels like winning the World Series,” Lamb said. “Clemson’s obviously a big rivalry but to me just being able to compete for the people around here and show who’s in South Carolina or who is the real Carolina was huge.”

To finish the game, Sam Gress helped South Carolina escape a bases loaded situation in the sixth. Gress pitched two innings allowing just three hits and no runs.

Defensively, redshirt junior Quincee Lilio made a huge impact with three big outs in the top of the seventh. Lilio snagged an almost-gone ball from the warning track followed by a beautiful double play to end the game.

This win means a little bit more for Chastain Woodard who never got the opportunity to face the Tigers during her time as a player.

“I just remember how big of a game that was as a student,” Chastain Woodard said. “And then as somebody that attended all those events, so really special for me just to be able to feel that now in the dugout and as a coach, and it is felt, I mean there’s just something in the air, for that game. So it’s special, and I probably won’t ever forget it.”

Up Next: The Gamecocks will return to SEC action, traveling to Baton Rouge to take on the No. 3 LSU Tigers. Game one of a three-game series will take place March 28 at 6 p.m. The matchup is available to watch on the SEC Network.

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