Baseball Hosts UNF, Winthrop in Midweek Action
Feb. 19, 2018
North Florida, Winthrop at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team continues its 10-game homestand with a pair of midweek contests at Founders Park. The Gamecocks will face North Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. South Carolina then hosts Winthrop on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. Wednesday’s game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus with Burch Antley and Kip Bouknight on the call. Both games will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott, Tommy Moody and Brad Muller on the call. The Gamecocks won 2-of-3 games from VMI to open the 2018 season. After falling in the season opener, South Carolina outscored VMI 16-2, including a 9-0 shutout in the season finale.
PARKING INFORMATION
> For the second 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. 17, 18 and 21.
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. 16, 20, 21, 23 and 27 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. 16, 20, 21, 23, 27)
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.
SCOUTING UNF
> The Ospreys are coming off a 1-2 weekend at home against Radford. North Florida won the series finale, 7-2, behind a two-hit, three-RBI performance from Rey Gonzalez. Raff Libuano leads the Ospreys with a .455 batting average, while Tanner Murphy has a team-best five RBI. On the mound, Trace Norkus struck out four batters in 4.1 innings pitched. North Florida will start righthander Frank German on Tuesday. German was an All-Atlantic Sun first team honoree last year, going 8-1 with a 2.43 earned-run average in 2017.
SCOUTING WINTHROP
> The Eagles fell in all three games at Ole Miss, including a 3-1 defeat in the series finale. Scout McFalls went 4-for-12 in the series with a double, while Jake Sullivan had three hits in three games. Daniel Willicut had five strikeouts in three innings pitched for the Eagles. Winthrop, who hosts USC Upstate on Tuesday afternoon, will start lefty Riley Arnone on Wednesday.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Tuesday
South Carolina John Gilreath (Fr. LHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 0 BB, 4 SO
UNF Frank German (Jr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 BB, 0 SO
Wednesday
South Carolina Logan Chapman (Fr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO
Winthrop Riley Arnone (Sr. LHP) 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 2.1 IP, 0 BB, 2 SO
BULLPEN SHINES IN VMI SERIES
> The South Carolina bullpen ended the VMI series the way it started, with a zero next to earned runs. The Gamecocks’ bullpen went 12.1 innings in the three games, not allowing a run while striking out 12 while walking just four. Freshman John Gilreath looked like a veteran in his first appearance, striking out four and allowing just three hits and no walks in four innings pitched. Logan Chapman and Sawyer Bridges each pitched 1.2 innings on Saturday, combining for five strikeouts. Gage Hinson pitched two innings on Sunday, striking out a pair of batters.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
> South Carolina committed just one error in 104 chances in the VMI series, and that was in the fifth inning of the third game. Jonah Bride and LT Tolbert had five assists apiece while Hunter Taylor collected 22 putouts.
STOKES ON FIRE IN VMI SERIES
> Senior Madison Stokes had a very impressive start to the 2018 season, going 5-for-9 (.556) with three doubles and two home runs, which is good for a 1.556 slugging percentage. Stokes’ hit both of his home runs in Saturday’s 7-2 win over the Keydets, his first multi-home run game in his Carolina career. In the season opener, Stokes had a pair of doubles and two RBI.
POWER SURGE FOR GAMECOCK BATS VS. VMI
> South Carolina belted six home runs in the three-game series vs. VMI, including two from senior Madison Stokes. Hunter Taylor, Jacob Olson, Chris Cullen and Justin Row also had a home run over the weekend. South Carolina currently is slugging .510 as a team with 12 extra-base hits while the home run total is tied for third after one weekend of play.
