Confidence overflowing for South Carolina softball after last year's postseason run
Something feels different. It’s not just because it’s a new year, which always bring a good feeling. But it’s more of a clear shift in energy.
For the past few years, South Carolina softball was at the bottom of the barrel. Once SEC play started, it was clear where you could find the Gamecocks: typically in last place in the standings.
However, that all changed after they caught lightning in a bottle. At the tail end of last year, the Gamecocks went on a run to the SEC Tournament finals. They then came one win short of advancing to a Super Regional.
“We went on a little burner there in the SEC Tournament and that run really gave our team the confidence that they still talk about today,” head coach Beverly Smith said. “I think the run we had there really overflowed into the NCAA Tournament and into Florida State.”
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It was in the NCAA Tournament that South Carolina found itself backed up into a corner on day one. After losing the regional opener, it rattled off three straight wins in less than 48 hours.
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The season came to a brutal end when it was no-hit by Florida State in the clincher. But that didn’t take anything away from how far the team had come in a matter of weeks. And now, that same confidence and swagger has flown over into this new season.
“Riley Blampied said something about, she wants to play this entire season, her senior season, with the confidence and attitude they did in the SEC Tournament,” Smith said. “So I do feel like the returners are back with that level of confidence they played with at the end of the season.”
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Blampied is one of the many veterans on the team that experienced years of losing before last year at South Carolina. After a season in which the Gamecocks won 40 games for the first time since 2018, she has reason to believe they can do it again.
“Personally, I’ve been here all four years and I did not get to experience a postseason feeling until last year. That feeling was like no other,” Blampied said. “Like coach Bev said, I want every year, every game to feel like the postseason with how we did at the SEC Tournament. That feeling was like no other. I want every game to feel like that.”
South Carolina opens the season up at home on Friday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. against Jacksonville State.
