COLUMBIA, S.C. – After holding the bats of No. 23/22 nationally-ranked South Carolina at bay though seven innings, the No. 22/23 Boston University softball team gave up a walk-off homer for the 3-0 loss Thursday evening at Beckham Field in the Garnet & Black Invitational.

Earning their second win against a ranked opponent following 9-1(6) win over then-No. 13 Utah in February, the Gamecocks improve to 19-5, while the Terriers (18-2) suffered their second heartbreaker to a ranked team. Alana Vawter (6-3) earned a quick 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth in relief for South Carolina and then after a contested ball called on a 2-2 outside pitch delivered the late-game heroics.

Graduate student Allison Boaz (1.1 IP), graduate student Lizzy Avery (4.2 IP) and sophomore Kasey Ricard (8-2) became just the second pitching staff this year to hold South Carolina scoreless through seven with then-No. 17 Texas A&M accomplishing the feat last weekend. Avery, graduate student Caitlin Coker and sophomore Brooke Deppiesse all collected a single for the Terriers.

BU will next face its second consecutive 2023 NCAA regional participant in Minnesota on Friday (March 15) with a 12:30 p.m. start time.