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Strong fifth inning helps South Carolina defeat No. 12 Texas Tech

by:Peyton Butt•about 15 hours
ella-chancey_54312065265_o-South Carolina Gamecocks softball vs Virginia-Feb 6 2025-Credit Katie Dugan GamecockCentral

No. 11 South Carolina softball defeated No. 12 Texas Tech in a close game one of a ranked weekend series. The Gamecocks took down the Red Raiders 5-2 after taking the lead for good in the fifth inning, improving to 23-5 on the season.

Lexi Winters got the Gamecocks on the board first with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Emily Vinson followed in the next frame with a hit to put South Carolina up 2-0 early.

A dropped third strike call led to two Red Raider runs scoring in the fifth off a two run RBI double by Mihyia Davis.

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Ella Chancey was responsible for getting the game back in South Carolina’s hands with a two run RBI double of her own in the bottom of the fifth.

“We scored early,” head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “I felt like we got a little casual. In the middle we gave them a chance to get back in the game, with just a few mistakes. But I was really proud of them for answering in the bottom of the fifth with three after we gave them the tie game in the top of the fifth.”


Chancey performed at the plate going 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Karley Shelton went 2-for-4 and scored a run.

“I just kind of went up there hunting a pitch over the plate and kept it pretty simple. I think being in this lineup it’s really easy, just to be really free in the box. And just allow yourself too, like I said, see a ball over the plate, and just swing really hard at it. I knew that she was coming in throwing curve, and that kind of was what I was looking for,” Chancey said.

Junior Jori Heard got it started on the mound for the Gamecocks, going 3.1 innings and keeping Texas Tech off the board. She struck out two and allowed just four hits.

“I thought Jori opened the game really well. She got us to the middle,” Chastain Woodard said. “We needed a lengthy open from her. We talked about trying to have a lengthy open from her before we went to Gress. We were really able to match up the lineup. Gress came in against some lefties, which you know, she’s kind of our lefty specialist.”

Sixth-year pitcher Sam Gress replaced Heard on the mound and was responsible for the two Red Raider runs.

Up Next: The Gamecocks will host the Red Raiders again Saturday Mar 22 for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on SECN+.

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