South Carolina softball's rankings following final series win before SEC Tournament
South Carolina softball bounced back from a series loss last weekend with a mid-week run-rule victory over Furman and a ranked series win over Alabama.
With the wins, USC’s overall record moved to 39-14, and the team now sits at 13-11 in SEC play. With a solid showing in the SEC Tournament this week, the Gamecocks could push themselves back into position as a national host site through the NCAA Tournament’s Super Regional round. Regardless of what happens in Athens, Carolina is almost guaranteed to host a Regional.
Last week’s 3-1 record didn’t move South Carolina softball up in the RPI rankings. Instead, the Gamecocks slipped one more spot to No. 9 nationally. Ashley Chastain Woodard’s team was No. 1 in the RPI just four weeks ago.
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Despite the lack of positive movement in the RPI, the Gamecocks have moved up in one of the four major polls this week. Thye stayed put in the other three.
D1Softball didn’t move South Carolina at all in their latest top-25 ranking. USC held fast at No. 14.
When Softball America released its updated poll, the Gamecocks slotted in at the No. 12 position. That marked a two-spot improvement from the outlet’s rankings last week.
The combined ESPN.com and USA Softball poll included USC as the country’s 12th-best team. Last week, the Gamecocks also were 12th.
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South Carolina softball is No. 14 in the USA Today/NFCA rankings. Like the D1Softball and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, that represented no movement for the Gamecocks.
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The regular season is over for Chastain Woodard’s team, and the Gamecocks will begin their run in the SEC Tournament this week. Last year, under former coach Bev Smith, the garnet and black won one game in the tourney before getting bounced. The team is improved this season, though, and they are good enough to make a run.
As the No. 7 overall seed, Carolina earned a first-round bye. On Wednesday, USC will take on the winner of Alabama and Auburn (who play on Tuesday night). The Gamecocks will face their Yellow Hammer State opponent at 8:00 p.m. The second-round matchup will broadcast on SEC Network.
If South Carolina wins their first game, they will take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday. That game also will be on SEC Network at 8:00 p.m. Last season, A&M was the team that knocked the Gamecocks out of the SEC Tournament.
The tournament semifinals will take place on Friday night, and then the championship game will be on Saturday. ESPN2 will handle broadcasting both semifinal contests, while ESPN will air the championship game.
