The South Carolina softball team is into the SEC tournament semifinals for the first time since 2002.
The third-seeded Gamecocks beat No. 11 Mississippi State, 3-1, in a Thursday afternoon quarterfinal game in Columbia, Missouri. USC (44-13) now awaits the winner of Georgia-Arkansas in a 3 p.m., Friday, semifinal. ESPNU will televise the game.
Cayla Drotar tossed a complete game, allowing one run on four hits. The Hartsville native faced the potential tying run in the seventh, but she got Cayln Adams to pop out. Drotar improved her record to 20-5. She helped herself with an RBI sacrifice fly in the third inning.