In now her seventh season, Beverly Smith had gradually improved South Carolina’s softball program little-by-little each season.
Under her guidance the team has matched or improved its win total the last four seasons and improved its RPI finish in each year — and 2017 was no exception. The Gamecocks finished with the program’s highest RPI ranking (22) since she arrived in 2011.
Granted South Carolina would have to win five more games to match their 2016 total of 38, but nonetheless the Gamecocks are back in the NCAA Tournament to try and do something they’ve never done under Smith: make a Super Regional.