Baseball Announces Opening Weekend Rotation

COLUMBIA – South Carolina baseball head coach Paul Mainieri announced his opening weekend rotation for the three-game series against Northern Kentucky. The Gamecocks will go with redshirt freshman Riley Goodman, junior Amp Phillips and junior Brandon Stone.

Goodman, who will get the ball in the first game on Friday, will be making his first appearance in both a collegiate game and a Gamecock uniform. He was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year in his first year at Carolina. He attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he was an All-State selection in 2023. He also was the No. 15 overall player and No. 5 pitcher in the State of Tennessee in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game.

Phillips will get the start in the second game on Friday. He is a transfer from USC Upstate, where he was the Big South Newcomer of the Year, an All-Big South first team honoree and was named to the Big South All-Tournament team. He went 7-2 with a 3.64 ERA in 20 appearances and 12 starts for the Spartans. In the NCAA Regional game against Clemson, Phillips struck out nine batters in six innings. He also had a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings against High Point.

Stone will get the start on Saturday and will make his eighth start in a Gamecock uniform. Stone struck out 46 batters for Carolina last season. He pitched a complete game in a 3-2 win over Ole Miss on April 17, striking out four and not allowing a walk while throwing just 86 pitches. He also struck out six in 4.2 innings in relief against Clemson on Feb. 28.