Baseball Hosts Valpo in Final Non-Conference Weekend Series

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team hosts Valparaiso in the team’s last non-conference weekend series of the season. The Gamecocks and Crusaders start the series Friday night (March 8) with first pitch at 4 p.m. at Founders Park. Game two will be on Saturday afternoon (March 9) at 4 p.m. with the series finale set for Sunday afternoon (March 10) at 1:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network + with a one-camera setup. All games will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call. Carolina had two games in the midweek, shutting out The Citadel 9-0 on Tuesday before falling to Gardner-Webb, 10-2, on Wednesday afternoon..

PARKING INFORMATION

> For the third straight season, shuttle parking for the University of South Carolina baseball season will be operational at the Key Road Gravel Lot (1105 Key Road) and in Lot B of the Colonial Life Arena parking lot. Shuttles will begin running two hours prior to game time.

We strongly recommend that fans use the baseball shuttle from Key Road to Founders Park over the CLA shuttle for the convenience, spacious parking (650 spaces) and less congestion than at the arena. Please remember that at the arena, shuttle parking will be limited to 50 spaces because of the student demand for parking in this area. There is a high student demand Monday through Thursday that lasts until 7 p.m. because of classes. Lots A and B are also reserved for men’s and women’s basketball parking on Feb. 19, 26, March 3 and March 9.

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

BUSINESS LOTS DURING AFTERNOON GAMES Business lot parking passes will be honored in Lot 1 ONLY for the Feb. 15, 19, 20, 22 and 26 afternoon baseball games based on availability. The businesses at 405 (Lot 9) and 401 (Lot 10) Huger Street request that you begin parking at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Other business lots open at 5 p.m. on weekdays. Parking is allowed in Lot 8 (the Cregger lot) on the Williams St. side for the afternoon early games.

GAME DAY PARKING INFORMATION (including public game day lots (PGDL: $10/$5 per game))

Weekday 4 p.m. Games (Feb. 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, March 4, 5, 8)
Game time: 4 p.m.
Stadium opens: 2:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 5/5:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PDGL Open: 1 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.

Weekdays
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 5:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 5/5:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 4 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 5 p.m.

Saturday
Game Time: 4 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 2:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 1 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 1 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.

Sunday
Game Time: 1:30 p.m.
Stadium Opens: Noon
Business Lots Open: 10:30 a.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 10:30 a.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 11:30 a.m.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION

Friday
South Carolina Wesley Sweatt (Fr. RHP) 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP, 0 BB, 8 SO
Valparaiso Michael Kornacker (R-Sr. RHP) 0-1, 6.08 ERA, 13.1 IP, 15 BB, 11 SO

Saturday
South Carolina Reid Morgan (Jr. RHP) 2-0, 1.74 ERA, 20.2 IP, 0 BB, 17 SO
Valparaiso Jon Tieman (Jr. RHP) 1-1, 6.32 ERA, 15.2 IP, 10 BB, 17 SO

Sunday
South Carolina TBA
Valparaiso Colin Fields (Fr. RHP) 0-1, 6.14 ERA, 7.1 IP, 11 BB, 8 SO

SCOUTING VALPARAISO

The Crusaders are coming off an 11-4 loss at North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. Riley Dent and Sam Shaikin had two hits and drove in one run apiece. Chase Dawson leads Valpo with a .300 batting average, while Blake Billinger has three home runs and nine RBI. Shaikin had a grand slam in the eighth inning of Valpo’s 10-8 win over UNC Wilmington this past Sunday. On the mound, Valpo will start three righties, led by Michael Kornacker, who has 11 strikeouts and a .156 opponent’s batting average in three starts.

THE SERIES

The two teams have met on the diamond twice, with both meetings coming during the 2010 season. The Gamecocks won both contests, taking the opener 12-4 on March 9 and winning, 7-3, in the series finale on March 10. Adrian Morales had three RBI while Whit Merrifield had two hits, including a home run, in the first game. Matt Price struck out eight in four innings of relief to earn the win in the nightcap.

RANKINGS

South Carolina returned to most of the national polls this week after defeating Clemson in two of three games on March 1-3. The Gamecocks are ranked 19th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll and 20th in the Baseball America poll. Carolina is 24th in both the D1Baseball.com and USA TODAY Coaches’ poll and 27th in the NCBWA Poll.

ALL SHOOK UP

Redshirt sophomore TJ Shook struck out a career-high 12 batters in 6.1 innings pitched as Carolina shut out The Citadel, 9-0, on March 5. Shook allowed just one hit while walking three in earning his second win of the season. It’s the most strikeouts by a Gamecock this year and the most since Adam Hill had 14 punchouts against Clemson in 2018.

SEC LEADERS

Cam Tringali is seventh in the SEC in ERA (0.66) and leads the conference with seven appearances. Reid Morgan is third in the conference in innings pitched at 20.2. At the plate, TJ Hopkins is tied second in home runs (5), tied for second in triples (2), seventh in slugging percentage (.722) and third in total bases (39). Luke Berryhill is third in slugging percentage (.783), tied for fifth in total bases (36) and sixth in RBI (18) and tied for fifth with 16 runs scored. Jacob Olson is tied for fifth with six doubles, while Brady Allen is tied for fourth with 13 walks. As a team, SC is 12th in batting average, 10th in ERA and 12th in fielding percentage.

UP NEXT

The Gamecocks head to Joe Riley Park in Charleston, S.C., for a Tuesday night (March 12) contest with The Citadel. First pitch is schedule for 7 p.m.