South Carolina softball hopes stacked days lead to NCAA Tournament success in 2026

Gamecocks wrap up four games in two days as part of Carolina Classic ahead of trip to California

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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South Carolina softball wrapped up four games in two days on Saturday evening as part of the Carolina Classic, including a 12-0 shutout of Kennesaw State. Head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard believes weekends like this help prepare the team for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament, as the long days and multiple games test the team's toughness and resilience. The Gamecocks are coming off their first Super Regional appearance since 2018 and hope the momentum from the weekend will carry over as they head to California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, which includes a rematch against Super Regional opponent UCLA.

Why it matters

South Carolina softball is looking to build on its recent success and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Facing a grueling schedule of multiple games over short periods of time will help the team prepare for the intensity and endurance required in the postseason.

The details

The Gamecocks wrapped up the Carolina Classic with a 12-0 shutout of Kennesaw State, capping off a four-game, two-day stretch. Head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard believes these types of weekends test the team's toughness and resilience, which will pay dividends come tournament time. South Carolina also faced Boston University in back-to-back games, which Chastain Woodard said will help prepare the team for the grind of SEC play. While the Gamecocks underperformed in some areas like hitting with runners in scoring position, the two wins over Boston University helped build momentum ahead of their trip to California.

  • The Gamecocks wrapped up four games in two days on Saturday evening as part of the Carolina Classic.
  • South Carolina followed a 6-2 win over Boston University on Friday afternoon with a 6-1 win on Saturday afternoon.

The players

Ashley Chastain Woodard

The first-year head coach of the South Carolina softball team.

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What they’re saying

“They are long days, a lot of innings, but our team is super tough, super resilient, but it is a good test. Doubleheader days are not for the weak. They're for the tough. I'm probably the weakest one of the program when it comes to that after the double header is over.”

— Ashley Chastain Woodard, Head Coach (on3.com)

“I really liked the test of playing Boston [University] twice back-to-back days. Because we faced that a lot in the year of being, you know, faced with an opponent multiple days in a row.”

— Ashley Chastain Woodard, Head Coach (on3.com)

“Controlling how many reps they're getting. How many times they're throwing, lifting. Just really making sure we set them up for success.”

— Ashley Chastain Woodard, Head Coach (on3.com)

“We're going to face some really good opponents here in the next seven days. So I thought it was really good for our confidence.”

— Ashley Chastain Woodard, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

South Carolina continues its stretch of non-conference tournaments with a trip to Santa Clara, CA, for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The tournament includes a rematch against Super Regional opponent UCLA on Saturday night.

The takeaway

The Gamecocks' ability to grind through a grueling weekend schedule of multiple games over short periods of time will be crucial in preparing them for the intensity and endurance required in the NCAA Tournament, as they look to build on their recent success and make a deep postseason run.