South Carolina slugger Arianna Rodi breaks program home run record, remains one of SEC's best bats

On Wednesday night, South Carolina softball played its fourth game in a row against Alabama. The Gamecocks took two of three against the Crimson Tide over the weekend, and following a ‘Bama win over Auburn in the first round of the SEC Tournament, USC–who had earned a Bye–was waiting. Carolina didn’t hold a lead through the first four innings, but then Ari Rodi did what Ari Rodi does.

In the fifth inning, the Gamecock slugger deposited the first pitch of her at-bat into the netting beyond the left-center fence. The two-run shot was her 15th of the year, tying her for the program’s all-time single-season home run lead. It also was her 12th go-ahead dinger of the season, good for the second-most nationally.

Then, with USC still leading 4-2 in the sixth, Rodi golfed a low two-strike pitch for a no-doubter to left. Her second two-run bomb of the game put her name at the top of the South Carolina softball record books. Her 16th homer matched her jersey number and put an exclamation point on the Gamecock victory.

Only seven players in the SEC have hit at least 16 home runs this season. Five of the other six have played in more games than Rodi. She is tied for second place in the conference in AB per HR. Rodi knocks a ball over the wall once in every 8.5 at-bats.

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After the contest, head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard acknowledged Rodi’s record-breaking blasts and said the home runs were two of “a lot of really cool moments” that helped the Gamecocks advance in the SEC Tournament. She also said she was not surprised by her star right-hander’s success in garnet and black. “I knew that the talent was going to translate,” Chastain Woodard said. “I know her, and I know her process. We have a lot of trust in her, so it’s good to see.” She added with a smile that she’s “glad [Rodi] will be around a little longer” as a junior with one more year of eligibility.

Rodi also spoke to the media, and she detailed just what it means to set South Carolina’s new home run record. “It means a lot. I really wasn’t trying to chase those numbers at all,” she explained. “I just tried to let it happen and let it come to me. I’m proud of everything–all the hard work I’ve put in. And I’m grateful for my teammates who are there for me in every waking moment and put me into those situations.”

Her hard work has paid off in more ways than just accumulating home run stats. Rodi owns a ridiculous slash line of .338/.492/.750/1.242. The on-base number (.492) is a career high, the 1.242 OPS is good for 10th among all SEC players, and she ranks in the top 15 in the league in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage, an impressive combination that has made her a dangerous bat in the middle of the South Carolina order. With more games left to play, she’s also set a new career high in walks, doubles, and runs scored. The first-year Gamecock has registered nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts, too.

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Rodi spent her first two years of college softball at Charlotte alongside Coach Chastain Woodard. When the Gamecock alum accepted the head coaching gig in Columbia, Rodi followed via the transfer portal. The junior was an all-conference performer in the AAC last year and should be in line to receive similar honors in the SEC this summer.

But first, Rodi and the Gamecocks have work to do. On Thursday, South Carolina will face off against the Texas A&M Aggies in Athens as part of the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. First pitch is slated for 8:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network. The winner of that contest will be two victories away from an SEC Tournament title.

The Gamecocks are playing for even more than the tournament crown. USC sits right on the cut line for an NCAA Tournament top-8 seed. (Softball America projected Carolina as a 9-seed before the SEC Tournament.) Becoming a national seed would grant South Carolina the right to host both the Regional and Super Regional NCAA rounds. Chastain Woodard’s group is a virtual lock to host a Regional in Columbia, and if they hold serve at home, a top-8 seed would mean they would host again in the Supers with a spot in the Women’s College World Series on the line.

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