Baseball Hosts Xavier Tuesday Afternoon at Founders Park

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team returns to Founders Park, starting a five-game homestand Tuesday night (March 8) against Xavier. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday’s game will be on SEC Network Plus. All games also will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call. The Gamecocks were swept by Clemson this past weekend. Michael Braswell had eight hits in the series, including four in Sunday’s game while Will Sanders struck out 14 batters in seven innings pitched.
 
PARKING INFORMATION
Shuttle parking for the University of South Carolina baseball season will be operational at the Key Road Gravel Lot (1105 Key Road). Shuttle begins two (2) hours prior to first pitch and continues until 1 hour after the game.

For GPS purposes, the address for the Key Road Gravel Lot is 1105 Key Road, Columbia, SC 29201.

GAME DAY PARKING INFORMATION (including public game day lots (PGDL: $10/$5 per game). All gameday lots are cashless. Please have a debit card or credit card ready for payment upon entry into parking lots.

Weekdays
Game Time: 3 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 2:00 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 1/1:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 2 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.

SCOUTING XAVIER
The Musketeers took 2-of-3 games at USC Upstate this past weekend. Jack Housinger was 3-for-3 with two RBI in Saturday’s win, while Luke Franzoni had three RBI. George Eisenhardt threw 7.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs in Sunday’s 7-4 win. Xavier has played a tough schedule to date, facing Alabama, Oregon State and Louisville before Tuesday night’s contest. Housinger is hitting .333 while Franzoni has seven home runs and 15 RBI on the year.

SERIES VS. XAVIER
Carolina and Xavier have met just once on the diamond, as the Gamecocks defeated the Musketeers, 7-2, on March 24, 1989.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Tuesday
South Carolina TBA
Xavier Miles Halligan (So. RHP) 0-0, 6.23 ERA, 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 7 SO
 
SANDERS DAZZLES IN CLEMSON START
Sophomore Will Sanders struck out a career high 14 batters in seven innings pitched in Friday night’s game against Clemson. Sanders had at least one strikeout in all seven innings he pitched, allowing six hits and a run. The 14 strikeouts were the most by a Gamecock pitcher since Adam Hill had 14 punchouts vs. Clemson in 2018. Sanders is 2-0 on the season with a 2.37 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.

BRASWELL IGNITES CAROLINA OFFENSE
Michael Braswell went 8-for-13 with a pair of doubles in the three-game Clemson series March 4-6. He has a hit in all 11 games this season and currently leads the team and is second in the SEC with a .477 batting average. Braswell also has nine strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched on the mound this season.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks host No. 1 Texas this weekend in a three-game series. The series begins on Friday night (March 11) at 7 p.m. at Founders Park. Saturday’s game is on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson on the call.