Ashley Chastain Woodard, Sam Gress share special bond at South Carolina

When South Carolina took the field for Saturday’s regional contest, Sam Gress stepped into the circle for her first pitch of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

As she settled in, her head coach felt she was out there with her.

“There’s just a part of our hearts that are connected together at this point,” Ashley Chastain Woodard said.

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Chastain Woodard and Gress’ bond goes back to their time together at Charlotte. Gress spent two seasons with the Niners under Chastain Woodard. When Chastain Woodard took the job at South Carolina last summer, Gress followed.

At Charlotte, Chastain Woodard saw Gress become the first player since 2017 to pitch at least 20 complete games, including three with double-digit strikeouts, in 2023.

Two seasons later, she got to watch her fellow pitcher achieve second-team All-SEC as well as All-SEC defensive team honors. Gress was the only Gamecock represented on any all-conference team.

“I love Sam Gress. I love her heart, competitive spirit,” Chastain Woodard said. “And I have for years.”

During Saturday’s regional win, Gress got off to a difficult start in the first inning. After giving up a two-out double, she found herself in a jam with two runners in scoring position.

“Early in the game, I went out and I challenged her to let go of whatever fear she was holding on to, because I felt that she was a little tight to start the game,” Chastain Woodard said.

Gress immediately walked a batter after the opening mound visit. However, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, she worked out of the jam with a groundout hit right back to her.

“I know that I can get out of any jam,” Gress said. “It takes one pitch, we had two outs there … and that’s what I tell myself in those moments is, ‘Just execute this one pitch and we’ll get the out.'”

When she got back on the mound in the second inning, she settled in, striking out her next two batters. However, as Gress’ day continued, she continued to find herself in difficult jams.

“I think in those moments I really rely on the people around me,” Gress said. “… Eye contact is a huge thing for me. Just leaning on them in those moments and focusing on my breath a little bit more. I think breathing just allows me to settle down a little bit, keep my heart rate down.”

In the fifth inning, the Gamecocks found themselves in another tense situation, running down the Osprey’s Lauren Brock at second base. The play ended with Gress diving for an out, scoring a 4-5-6-5-4-1 rundown.

“I was not surprised that she was the one who dove on the ground to get the out. Karley Shelton said in the dugout after the game, she’s like, ‘Yeah, I gave it up to Sam. I knew we were gonna get the out just by the look in her eyes on the other side of that.'”

Gress ended her afternoon claiming the win after 4.2 innings pitched. She earned four strikeouts, walking five batters and allowing six hits.

In big moments like these, as a former pitcher, Chastain Woodard feels intertwined with Gress.

“These are big moments, big games. These guys, there’s a lot on the line,” Chastain Woodard said. “They worked really hard for their whole careers for what’s on the horizon for us. And so I do feel like Sam and I are intertwined in those moments.”

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