COLUMBIA — It took a moment to sink in — then suddenly, celebrations erupted as an eighth run meant South Carolina softball advanced to a super regional for the first time since 2018.

First-year coach Ashley Chastain Woodard and the No. 8 seed Gamecocks (43-15) beat North Florida 8-0 in a run-ruled five-inning game on May 18, after beating the Ospreys 3-0 on May 17 and Elon 5-2 on May 16 in the Columbia Regional.

They will host either No. 9 seed UCLA (52-10) in a super regional at Carolina Softball Stadium. The Gamecocks are 34-5 at home.

South Carolina was voted to finish last in the SEC but now the Gamecocks are just two wins away from advancing to the Women’s College World Series, which would be the program’s first since 1997.

Chastain Woodard, who was a pitcher for the Gamecocks from 2009-11, was hired from Charlotte and brought six players with her, including star pitcher Sam Gress, infielder Ella Chancey and home-run leader Arianna Rodi. The 2025 roster is a hodgepodge of Gamecocks who stayed through the coaching change after last season, former 49ers and other transfers.

Sixth-year outfielder Abigail Knight, a transfer from Charlotte, said looking at the roster and the 2025 season, the Gamecocks had two choices.

“Either use this time as a rebuild and use this time to grow or we could go get it right away,” Knight said. “Nobody wanted to waste any time, just tip-toeing into the season, we wanted to go get it. There’s no time like the present.”

Chastain Woodard has set a program record for the most wins for a first-year coach.

“She’s the best that I’ve ever played behind,” Knight said. “What an honor it is to follow her into battle.”

Heading into the regional final, South Carolina had to win just one game against North Florida. The Gamecocks had a game-changing two-out rally in the fifth inning where they scored six runs. In the regional, 12 of the 16 runs scored by South Carolina came with two outs.

TRUST: How South Carolina softball coach Ashley Chastain’s trust paid off vs North Florida in NCAA regional

After the win on May 17, Chastain Woodard admitted that last summer she told her team a regional appearance was attainable for this group. Now, this next achievement isn’t a surprise either.

“I think anything is possible,” Chastain Woodard said. “I have a ton of belief in the players, in the ones who stayed and the ones who came in. I knew it was definitely possible … a top-8 seed, you look around at the conference, you look around at the game right now and man, that’s really hard to do … it’s special, these are moments and weeks you’ll never forget.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

COLUMBIA — South Carolina softball, the top seed of the Columbia Regional and the No. 8 national seed, defeated No. 3 seed North Florida 3-0 in the NCAA tournament, on May 17.

With the win, the Gamecocks (42-15) advance to the regional final on May 18 (1 p.m., ESPN2).

It was a pitchers’ duel through five innings, with the wind an additional factor at Carolina Softball Stadium. After missing a two-run home run by a foot in the fourth inning, senior Ella Chancey stepped up to the plate in the sixth with two outs. She doubled to right field then an error at the plate allowed Chloe Lackey to score the game’s first run.

Emma Sellers, with the bases loaded and still two outs, singled to bring home two more to make it 3-0.

The Osprey (46-14) had star pitcher Allison Benning battling veteran Sam Gress for the Gamecocks. Gress allowed six hits, zero runs and threw four strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Jori Heard relieved Gress, following up her May 16 performance with another quality game. Heard allowed no hits and no runs in 2.1 innings.

South Carolina softball live score vs North Florida

The Gamecocks score the game’s first runs in the top of the sixth. North Florida had no hits and no runs to close the sixth, giving South Carolina a three-run lead heading into the top of the seventh.

South Carolina leaves two on in the fifth.

Ella Chancey was just a foot away from a two-run home run. North Florida leaves one on and it’s still 0-0 heading into the fifth.

Emily Vinson makes a diving catch for South Carolina to get the first out of the inning, then North Florida leaves two on.

Gamecocks go three up three down. The Ospreys’ runner gets called for leaving early, ending the inning.

Arianna Rodi with a two out single but South Carolina didn’t get anything more. The Ospreys load the bases but leave three on.

What time does South Carolina softball vs. North Florida start?  

• Date: May 17
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field in Columbia, South Carolina

What TV channel is South Carolina softball vs. North Florida on today?  

• TV: N/A
• Streaming: ESPN+ on the ESPN app

South Carolina softball starting pitcher

Sam Gress is starting for the Gamecocks. She has a 3.12 ERA, 12 wins and 94 strikeouts.

North Florida softball starting pitcher

Allison Benning, North Florida’s star is starting. She has a 1.49 ERA, 25 wins and 174 strikeouts.

NCAA softball schedule

Here is the latest college softball schedule and NCAA Tournament bracket update.

NCAA Tournament Columbia Regional softball schedule

May 17

Game 3: North Florida vs South Carolina, 1 p.m., ESPN+

Game 4: Virginia vs. Elon, 3:30 p.m., TV TBD

Game 5: loser of G3 vs. winner of G4, 6 p.m., TV TBD

May 18

Game 6: winner of G3 vs. winner of G5, 1 p.m., ESPN2.

Game 7: winner of C6 vs. loser of G6 (if necessary), 3:30 p.m.

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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin