Good morning. It’s Game Day! You’ll have four chances (and two doubleheaders!) to catch Gamecock softball’s opening weekend: today vs. UNCG at 3:00pm and vs. Jacksonville State at 5:30pm, tomorrow vs. Virginia at 3:00pm and vs. Jacksonville State at 5:30pm, and Sunday vs. Virginia at 12:30pm. Grab your tickets and head out to the field!

What else is mixed into today’s Brew? ⤵️

⛳ Par for the course
⚾ First pitch
🤙 And much, much more

🎥 GAMECOCKS+

If you haven’t yet listened to Head Coach Bev Smith on the latest episode of Gamecock Talk dive into why she’s so excited about her 14th season at the helm of South Carolina softball, don’t delay! The Gamecocks open their season this afternoon at Beckham Field — and we’ve got your season primer right here!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Defensive Dominance. Kamilla Cardoso is one of 15 players named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List! Cardoso’s defensive dominance is a huge part of the reason why South Carolina women’s basketball is the nation’s 11th-ranked defense. She averages 2.9 shots blocked per game, good for sixth in the nation, and the Gamecocks are leading women’s college hoops in field goal percentage defense at .310.

And speaking of Gamecock women’s basketball, the squad climbed to 22-0 last night, defeating Missouri, 83-45. MiLaysia Fulwiley led South Carolina with 19 points, while Chloe Kitts (12), Sania Feagin (11), and Bree Hall (10) all landed in double-digit figures. The Gamecocks will welcome No. 11 UConn to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday at 2:00pm ET.

🔼 Big Gamecock Weekend. In case you missed it this week, circle your calendars for Big Gamecock Weekend presented by Palmetto Shirt Company! Slated for April 19-21, activities include the Garnet & Black Spring Game, the Cocky Trot 5K, and Junior Gamecock Club movie night on the field of Williams-Brice Stadium. More details here.

🔼 For The Love Of Their Country. Olympic qualifiers are underway. Here’s where you can stream the match-ups as Kamilla Cardoso, Aliyah Boston, and Laeticia Amihere suit up in their nation’s colors.

🔼 Par For The Course. Gamecock men's and women’s golf earned conference recognition this week, as junior All-American Hannah Darling earned SEC Women’s Golfer of the Week and junior Nathan Franks earned SEC Men’s Golfer of the Week. Darling posted a 3-0 record as the Gamecocks pulled off the win at the Therese Hession Regional Team Challenge, while Franks posted his first career victory at the Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate with a career-best 54-hole score of 204.

🔼 First Pitch. D1 Baseball’s 2024 season preview analyzing South Carolina’s schedule is out! Mark Etheridge takes a look at how the slate shapes up, highlights upcoming battles with four ACC powerhouses, and breaks down the team’s mid-major schedule.

While we’re on the subject of Gamecock baseball, Ethan Petry and Cole Messina picked up another honor this week — this time, landing on the Preseason All-SEC First Team.

And Petry is ready to capitalize on this momentum and pick up exactly where he left off after a stunning freshman campaign. Here’s how he plans to do it.

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

Grand Slam. Year 14 of the Coach Smith era gets underway today. How many grand slams has Gamecock softball hit while she’s been the head coach?

Got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📬 A LOOK AHEAD

Friday 2/9 - Sunday 2/11

🏊 Swimming & Diving (Swim Only) @ the UVA Cavalier Invitational (Charlottesville, VA)

Friday 2/9 - Saturday 2/10

🏃 Track & Field @ the Tiger Paw Invite (Clemson, SC)

🏃 Track & Field @ the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (Boston, MA)

Friday 2/9

🏇 Equestrian @ TCU @ 11:00am ET

🥎 Softball vs. UNCG @ 3:00pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Jacksonville State @ 5:30pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

Saturday 2/10

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt @ 1:00pm ET on SEC Network | Tickets

🏇 Equestrian @ Texas A&M @ 2:00pm ET

🥎 Softball vs. Virginia @ 3:00pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Jacksonville State @ 5:30pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

Sunday 2/11

⛳ Men’s Golf @ the Puerto Rico Classic Round 1 (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) | Live Stats

🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Ohio State @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Virginia @ 12:30pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. UConn @ 2:00pm ET on ESPN

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: There have been 31 Grand Slams during the Bev Smith era. Ansley Ard and Mackenzie Boesel are tied for the most with three each.

🤙 Have a good Friday, y’all.