South Carolina Softball Pushes Oklahoma to the Brink but Falls in Thrilling Series Sweep
South Carolina softball went toe-to-toe with the four-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners this past weekend in a battle of the nation’s last two unbeaten teams. Despite three razor-thin, one-run losses, the Gamecocks proved they belong among the country’s elite.
Carolina (20-3, 0-3 SEC) dropped all three games in heartbreaking fashion:
- Friday: 10-9 loss
- Sunday (Game 1): 10-9 loss
- Sunday (Game 2): 2-1 loss
Even after the sweep, the Gamecocks held strong in the national rankings, remaining inside the top 15 across all major polls.
- D1Softball: Dropped from No. 9 to No. 14
- Softball America (On3): Fell just one spot to No. 10
- ESPN.com/USA Softball: Moved up from No. 10 to No. 9
- USA Today/NFCA: Jumped two spots from No. 11 to No. 9
The narrow losses in Norman only reinforced that head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard’s squad is a force to be reckoned with this season.
What’s Next for South Carolina?
The Gamecocks return home on Wednesday for a non-conference showdown against Coastal Carolina at 6:00 p.m. The Chanticleers (on a six-game winning streak) just swept South Dakota without allowing a single run. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Then, South Carolina jumps back into SEC play with a massive home series against No. 13 Georgia. The Bulldogs (19-4, 1-2 SEC) are coming off a tough 1-2 series loss to top-10 Tennessee.
- Friday: 6:00 p.m. (Beckham Field)
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 1:00 p.m.
(All games streaming on SEC Network+)
Following the Georgia series, the Gamecocks will briefly step out of conference play, including a showdown with bitter rival Clemson, before heading into another crucial SEC battle against LSU to close out the month.
