Softball Drops Battles to Louisville, No. 16 South Carolina

Friday, February 13

Columbia, SC

11 AM

Boston University

3-3

Louisville

4-2

Louisville

Boston University

Camryn Lyons makes a catch in the outfield while on the run

Photo by: Jon Rose

Softball Drops Battles to Louisville, No. 16 South Carolina

February 13, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Event Central (*Live Stats links)Watch on SECN+ (Sat. vs. USC)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Starting off the Carolina Classic, the Boston University softball team fell to Louisville and No. 16 South Carolina Friday afternoon at Beckham Field.

Louisville (4-2) prevailed in the first game, 3-0, and the Gamecocks (5-2) held off a late BU rally in a 6-2 decision. Both the Cardinals and Gamecocks struck early and limited the Terriers to just four hits apiece while combining for 17 of their own.

GAME 1: Louisville - 3, BU - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cardinals grabbed the lead for good in the top of the first with a single, stolen base and two-out RBI single to right against senior Kasey Ricard (3-2).
BU threatened for the first time in the second with senior Megan Coyle and freshman Madolyn Coupal recording back-to-back two-out singles, but Alyssa Zabala (2-0) earned a strikeout to keep the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals had a runner advance to third in both the third and fourth innings, but Ricard earned a fly out and strikeout to end the threat.
BU was unable to advance Coyle further after she recorded her second single to start the fifth and moved to second on a ground out with two more ground outs.
The Cardinals added an insurance run by taking advantage of an error with an RBI double in the sixth against Ricard and followed up with a seventh-inning triple and run scored on failed pickoff attempt against sophomore Danika Nell.
Freshman Irys Kline tried to mount a rally with a lead-off single, but Zabala earned three quick outs to seal the victory in the teams' first meeting since BU eliminated the Cardinals, 8-3, at the 2014 NCAA Tucson Regional.

GAME 2: #16 South Carolina - 6, BU - 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the Terriers stranded sophomore Kieren McHugh (1B) at first, they turned their first double-play of the season in the bottom half to keep the game scoreless entering the second inning.
The Gamecocks though grabbed the lead for good on their return to the plate with a lead-off single, stolen base and RBI double against Nell (0-2).
South Carolina then took advantage of a pair of fielding errors to extend the lead to 3-0 entering the third.
BU threatened in the fourth by loading the bases on Kline's two-out single, McHugh's walk and Coyle's hit-by-pitch, but Emma Friedel maintained the 3-0 lead by earning a strikeout.
The Gamecocks used their speed again during the bottom half with a one-out single, stolen base and RBI single through the left side before Ganino entered in relief to earn a pair of line outs.
McHugh reached first a third time with a lead-off single in the sixth but senior pinch-runner Aimee Metz was stranded a third on a fly out to left.
Trying to run-rule their fifth straight unranked opponent, the Gamecocks recorded a two-out, two-RBI triple but fell two runs short, as Ganino sent the game to the seventh by earning a line out to center.
BU avoided being shut out twice on the same day for the first time since 2020 with sophomore Cara Edwards earning a one-out walk and sophomore pinch-runner Ava Johnson eventually scoring on senior Brooke Deppiesse's RBI double to right center.
Sophomore Chloe Dryden also drew a walk and reached third on the double before scoring on a wild pitch.
The Gamecocks went to the pen and improved to 6-0 all-time in the series by striking out the next two Terriers.

UP NEXT

The Terriers will have just two games remaining after South Carolina announced the canceling of Sunday's action due to the weather forecast.
BU will first face Louisville a second time at 12:30 p.m. and then meet the Gamecocks again at 3 p.m.