Softball On SI

Columbia Softball Regional: Schedule & Updates

Maren Angus-Coombs|
May 7, 2025; Athens, GA, USA; South Carolina starting pitcher/relief pitcher Jori Heard (25) reacts to her final strikeout with teammates during a game against Alabama at Jack Turner Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images
May 7, 2025; Athens, GA, USA; South Carolina starting pitcher/relief pitcher Jori Heard (25) reacts to her final strikeout with teammates during a game against Alabama at Jack Turner Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images | Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

The No. 8 South Carolina Gamecocks earned their first national seed in program history and host the Columbia Regional May 16-18 at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Joining the Gamecocks are the Virginia Cavaliers, the North Florida Osprey, and the Elon Phoenix.

* Game times are in Eastern Time.

Friday

Game 1 –  Virginia 1, UNF 2

The North Florida Osprey and Virginia Cavaliers were locked in a pitcher's duel and the Osprey came away with a one-run win.

UNF scored both runs in the sixth inning via a Chloe Culp RBI single and a run-scoring double from Kirsten Caravaca.

Allison Benning improved to 25-5 with the win. She struck out five, walked four and allowed one earned run on two hits.

Sarah Coon's solo home run was the only offense for the Cavaliers.

Game 2 – South Carolina 5, Elon 2

Jori Heard was untouchable in 5.1 innings of relief for South Carolina against Elon, only giving up one hit and striking out six.

Both teams recorded six hits but South Carolina got the timely hits with runners in scoring position. Karley Shelton walked twice and scored twice. Arianna Rodi's two-run home run in the third gave the Gamecocks some insurance.

The top three batters for Elon – Greta Hessenthaler, Allee Seering, and Kaitlyn Wells – combined for all six hits.

Saturday

Game 3 – UNF 0, South Carolina 3

South Carolina scored three runs in the sixth inning with Emma Sellers driving in two of them to lift the Gamecocks over the UNF Osprey.

The Osprey out-hit the Gamecocks 6-4 with Allison Benning going 2-for-2 with a walk.

Jori Heard was the pitcher of record and earned the win after pitching 2.1 innings of perfect softball. Sam Gress got the start and allowed all six hits and walked three.

Game 4 – Virginia 12, Elon 0

Jade Hylton and Macee Eaton homered to lead the Virginia Cavaliers to a dominant win over the Elon Phoenix.

The Hoos scored one in the first, five in the fifth and six in the seventh.

Eden Bigham held the Phoenix to just three hits in 5.0 inning before handing the ball to Savanah Henley, who struck out one in the final 2.0 innings.

Game 5 – 6 p.m. Virginia 5, UNF 6

The North Florida Osprey came back from a 5-1 deficit to score five runs in the final two innings and walked off the Virginia Cavaliers and advance to the Regional final on Sunday.

UVA opted to walk Allison Benning in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on and Chloe Culp made them pay, singling to centerfield and scoring Lauren Brock.

Kylah Berry got the start for UNF but it was Taylor Cook who got the win. Macie Hunolt also pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Sunday

Game 6 – South Carolina 8, UNF 0

The South Carolina Gamecocks scored two in the fourth and six in the fifth to walk off the UNF Osprey in a run-rule win.

Sam Gress and Jori Heard shut out the Osprey, who only had three hits in the contest.

Brooke Blankenship and Abigail Knight led the South Carolina offense with two hits apiece. Blankenship drove in two runs and Knight had three RBIs.

The Gamecocks await the winner of the Los Angeles Regional and will host either UCLA or UC Santa Barbara in the Super Regional.

Published | Modified
Maren Angus-Coombs
MAREN ANGUS-COOMBS

Maren Angus-Coombs was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. She has been covering college softball since 2016 for various outlets including Softball America, ESPNW and Hurrdat Sports. She is currently the managing editor of Softball On SI and also serves as an analyst for Nebraska softball games on Nebraska Public Media and B1G+.

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