Skip to main content

No. 6 South Carolina Evens Series vs No. 7 Arkansas Behind Rodi Homer

by:Tara Henry•04/12/25
3f73c829-2.28-duke_204-e1741029363519

​In a pivotal Game 2 of the SEC series, Arianna Rodi‘s three-run homer in the fifth inning propelled South Carolina to a 5–4 comeback victory over Arkansas, leveling the series.​

Nealy Lamb moved to 9–0 on the season with the win, while Sam Gress picked up her fourth save of the year.

Arkansas capitalized on early defensive miscues by South Carolina to take a 3–0 lead in the first inning. Freshman pitcher Payton Burnham started for the Razorbacks, while Jori Heard took the circle for the Gamecocks, laboring through a 30-pitch opening frame.​

The Gamecocks threatened in the bottom of the first, but a double play from third to first ended the inning. In the bottom half, Reagan Johnson led off with a single to second, followed by a single from Raigan Kramer. Bri Ellis reached on a fielder’s choice as the throw to second pulled the fielder off the bag. Ella McDowell then drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run. Courtney Day struck out looking, but Kailey Wyckoff‘s grounder up the middle resulted in an errant throw, allowing two more runs to score, giving Arkansas a 3–0 lead.​

In the second inning, Nealy Lamb relieved Heard. After securing the first out, Lamb allowed a single to Kennedy Miller, who advanced to second on a groundout. Kramer then singled to right, extending Arkansas’s lead to 4–0. Ellis walked, but Lamb induced a groundout from McDowell to end the inning.​

South Carolina began its comeback in the third. Emma Sellers led off with a bloop single to left, and Emily Vinson followed with a single to shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Quincee Lilio moved the runners into scoring position. Karley Shelton‘s groundout to second brought in the first run, and a wild pitch allowed Vinson to score, cutting the deficit to 4–2. Rodi singled to left-center, and Lexi Winters added a single to right, but the inning ended with a groundout.​

In the fifth, Cam Harrison entered the game and surrendered back-to-back singles to Lillio and Shelton. With no outs, Rodi launched her 12th home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave South Carolina a 5–4 lead.​

Arkansas attempted to rally in the sixth. Ellis drew a leadoff walk, and after a flyout, Sam Gress entered to pitch. Day singled to center, but a Atalyia Rijo grounder through Rodi’s legs at first hit Day, resulting in the third out.​

In the bottom of the sixth, Burnham re-entered after a Abigail Knight single and gave up a double to Sellers. After Natalie Heath grounded out, Robyn Herron entered and loaded the bases by holding a bunt from Lillio. Herron then struck out Shelton and Rodi to end the inning.​

Arkansas threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. Ratcliff’s pinch-hit single brought the top of the lineup back. Kramer singled to center, and Ellis reached on an error, loading the bases for McDowell. Gress induced a flyout to right to escape the jam, preserving the 5–4 lead.​

Gress closed out the seventh with a pair of ground outs and fly out. The Gamecocks pick up their first with in Fayetteville since 2019. South Carolina’s resilience and timely hitting secured the victory, setting up a decisive Game 3 in the series.​

More from Softball America:

Softball America’s Latest Bracketology
Recruiting Rankings
Conference Power Rankings: SEC | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten

You may also like