Baseball Hosts Davidson On Tuesday Night
April 17, 2017
Date: Tuesday April 18
First Pitch: 7 p.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Founders Park
Television/Video: SEC Network Plus (Burch Antley and Trey Dyson)
Radio: 107.5 The Game & The Gamecock Radio Network (Derek Scott and Tommy Moody)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (22-13) closes out its homestand with a Tuesday night non-conference tilt vs. Davidson (18-15). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
Freshman right-hander Cody Morris is the scheduled starter for South Carolina on Tuesday. He is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA.
RANKINGS
South Carolina is ranked in most of the major polls. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 18 in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 20 by Perfect Game, No. 21 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 24 by D1Baseball. In addition, South Carolina is No. 22 in the RPI rankings released by the NCAA on Monday morning.
RECAP
South Carolina is 22-13 and 8-7 in the SEC after going 1-3 last week. The Gamecocks are tied for second in the SEC Eastern Division and tied for sixth overall in the league.
TO ARMS
South Carolina pitchers continue to be among the league leaders in the SEC. The Gamecocks own a 3.17 team ERA with 135 runs allowed, 113 earned, on 261 hits in 320.2 innings pitched. The Gamecocks have struck out 357 batters to 123 walks. Opponents are batting .222 against the Gamecocks. South Carolina ranks second in the SEC in opposing batting average as well as third in ERA and strikeouts.
South Carolina’s 2.77 ERA in SEC games leads the conference as well. The Gamecocks have 150 strikeouts in 139.2 innings during conference play.
AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD
South Carolina is hitting .274 (329-for-1200) for the season with a .354 on-base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks have 31 homers on the year. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 26 of 35 games this year.
South Carolina is fielding .978 for the season with 16 games without an error. South Carolina is 13-3 when not committing an error. South Carolina ranks third in the SEC in fielding.
SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 17-5 on the year when scoring first in a game and 17-4 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 21-3 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 14-2 when scoring six or more runs and 21-7 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 10-11 in games decided by three runs or less.
10 of South Carolina’s first 15 SEC games have been decided by three runs or less with the Gamecocks 3-7 in those contests. South Carolina is 10-1 in five-plus run games.
START WITH CLARKE
Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt put together a quality start despite the loss in Friday’s 7-4 defeat to Mississippi State. Schmidt allowed five runs, two earned, on five hits in eight innings with one walk and 11 strikeouts. He retired 19 batters in a row at one point before coming out of the game before the ninth inning.
Schmidt is 4-1 with a 1.31 ERA in eight starts. He has 68 strikeouts to 15 walks in 55.0 innings pitched. Opponents are batting .190 against him. Schmidt ranks third in the SEC in ERA and opposing batting average as well as fourth in strikeouts. Schmidt has 37 strikeouts in 29.0 conference innings with conference opponents batting .182 against him as well. His 1.55 ERA in conference play is third-best in the league as well.
Schmidt is one of 40 players in the nation named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, it was announced on Wednesday afternoon. Presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the 40th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 29 in Los Angeles to the top amateur baseball player in the country.
CORTES IN A GROOVE
Freshman outfielder Carlos Cortes had the big bat for the Gamecocks this weekend vs. Mississippi State hitting .333 (4-for-12) with three homers, four runs scored and five RBIs. Cortes belted a pair of homers in Saturday’s 5-4 loss and drove in four runs and followed that up with a solo homer and two runs scored in the 6-1 win on Sunday.
Cortes has climbed to a .293 (22-for-75) batting average with four homers and 17 RBI on the year. 13 of his 17 RBI this season have come in SEC play. He is hitting .361 (13-for-36) against SEC teams. His four homers in conference play is tied for sixth-most in the SEC.
THE CROWE SHOW
Junior right-hander Wil Crowe also put together a quality start despite a loss in Saturday’s 5-4 defeat to Mississippi State. Crowe allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in eight-plus innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Crowe is 3-3 with a 3.49 ERA in nine starts. He has 56 strikeouts in 56.2 innings with opponents batting .239 against him. Crowe is tied for 11th in the SEC in strikeouts and tied for eighth in innings pitched.
THAT’S TOLBERT
Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert continues to lead the Gamecocks in hitting with a .333 average (40-for-120) on the year. He has 16 runs scored and a team-high 27 RBIs as well. Tolbert hit .333 (4-for-12) in the Mississippi State series with three runs batted in. He was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the 6-1 win over Mississippi State. Tolbert is hitting at a .322 clip in conference play. He has driven in 15 runs in conference play as well. That is also the most RBIs among Gamecock players vs. SEC teams and ranks tied for fifth in the SEC.
HILL ON THE MOUND
Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill delivered South Carolina’s third quality start of the weekend in the 6-1 victory vs. Mississippi State. Hill allowed just one run on four hits in six innings with four walks to seven strikeouts. Hill is 2-3 with a 2.14 ERA in eight starts. He has struck out 55 in 46. 1innings with opponents batting .199 against him. Hill is seventh in the SEC in opposing batting average as well as ERA and tied for 13th in strikeouts. Hill sports a 2-1 record with a 2.48 ERA in conference play. He has 35 strikeouts in SEC play in 29.0 innings pitched. His 2.48 ERA in conference play is ninth best in the league.
CATCHING UP WITH CULLEN
Sophomore catcher Chris Cullen is third on the team in hitting with a .307 average (27-for-88) with a team-best .413 on-base percentage. Cullen has hit .346 (9-for-26) with three doubles and seven runs scored in the last 10 games. Cullen’s .325 average (13-for-40) in SEC play is the best among the Gamecocks in conference action as well. He was 2-for-4 with a run in the 7-4 loss vs. Mississippi State. He hit .333 (4-for-12) in the weekend series vs. the Bulldogs.
REAGAN FROM THE LEFT
Senior left-hander Josh Reagan pitched two scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout to earn the win in the 6-1 victory vs. Mississippi State. Reagan is 4-1 on the year in 16 relief appearances with two saves. He has a 2.43 ERA. Reagan has struck out 31 to seven walks and has pitched 29.2 innings for the season. Three of Reagan’s four wins are in the SEC, that is tied for third-best among conference pitchers.
DYNAMIC DESTINO
Junior outfielder Alex Destino had a season-high three-hit performance with a run scored in Friday’s 7-4 loss to Mississippi State. Destino is batting .267 (36-for-135) with 20 runs scored and 25 RBIs.
BOWERS BRINGS IT
Senior right-hander Colie Bowers pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Bulldogs. He is 2-0 with three saves in 14 relief appearances with a 0.79 ERA. He has 26 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched with opponents batting .132 against him. He has allowed just four runs, two earned, on 10 hits with only one extra base hit allowed all season.
OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Sophomore outfielder Jacob Olson has reached base in 24 straight games. He hit .333 (4-for-12) in the Mississippi State series including a 2-for-4 game with two runs scored in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Bulldogs. For the season, Olson is batting .308 (40-for-130) with 20 RBIs and 28 runs scored. He has six doubles, a triple and five homers with a .375 on-base percentage and a .485 slugging percentage.
TJ LEADS IT OFF
Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins was 2-for-4 in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Mississippi State and had a three-hit performance in Tuesday’s contest vs. North Carolina. Hopkins is batting .276 (32-for-116) with 14 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
THE VERSATILE LAWSON
Sophomore right-hander Graham Lawson pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in the 7-6 loss to the Commodores. Lawson has 14 strikeouts in 16.2 innings with opponents batting .226 against him. He is 2-0 on the year.
JONAH WITH A JOLT
Junior infielder Jonah Bride had a game-winning RBI sacrifice fly in the 6-1 win over Mississippi State. Bride is hitting .285 (35-for-123) with 17 runs scored and 18 RBIs. He owns a .379 on-base percentage with 14 walks to 12 strikeouts at the plate.
LATTA LIGHTNING
Freshman right-hander Colby Lee pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief in the 6-1 win vs. Furman and followed that up with 0.2 scoreless in the 5-3 loss to Vanderbilt. Lee is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in seven appearances. He has 12 strikeouts in 14.2 innings with opponents batting .208 against him.
STOKES HEATS UP
Junior infielder Madison Stokes is starting to heat up with a .345 average (10-for-29) in the last 10 games. Stokes tied a career-high with three RBIs and added a RBI in the 6-1 win over the Bulldogs. Stokes is hitting .231 (27-for-116) for the season with 13 RBIs, 16 runs scored with six doubles and three homers.
GREAT SCOTT
Senior right-hander Reed Scott has made 14 relief appearances and has moved into a tie for ninth all-time in career appearances with the Gamecocks with 79 with the Garnet & Black. He is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA and two saves. He has allowed 14 runs, 13 earned, on 28 hits in 30.1 innings with 12 walks and 28 strikeouts.
Top 10 Career Appearances in South Carolina History
110 Tyler Webb 2010-12
102 Matt Price 2009-12
94 Michael Roth 2009-12
88 Rob Mosser 1990-93
87 Aaron Rawl 2002-05
87 Jason Pomar 1996-99
86 Jamie Poston 1997-00
81 Kip Bouknight1998-01
79 Reed Scott 2014-17
79 Brian Beatson1987-90
ON BASE WITH WILLIAMS
Junior first baseman Matt Williams owns a team-high 22 walks. Williams has played in all 35 games with 29 starts. He is hitting .267 (28-for-105) for the season.
JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson pitched a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts in the 6-1 win over Mississippi State. That followed up a perfect inning of relief that he had five days earlier in a non-conference tilt vs. North Carolina. Johnson has struck out 15 in 8.2 innings pitched in seven relief appearances on the year.
THERE’S Hunter Taylor
Junior catcher Hunter Taylor is hitting .255 (13-for-51) with seven runs scored and three RBI as well as four doubles and a .350 on-base percentage.
HOGAN HITS
Freshman first baseman Riley Hogan got the start at designated hitter and delivered for the Gamecocks in a 4-2 win vs. Alabama going 2-for-3 with a RBI double and reaching base in three of four plate appearances. Hogan is hitting .208 (5-for-24) with two runs scored and two RBI.
ROW WITH IT
Junior infielder Justin Row hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning as Carolina defeated Alabama 6-5. Row is hitting .250 (7-for-28) with four RBI and five runs scored.
THE MORRIS CODE
Freshman right-hander Cody Morris is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in five starts. He has 22 strikeouts to four walks in 17.1 innings with opponents batting .219 against him.
PARKE PROVIDES RELIEF
Junior left-hander John Parke has a win and a save in two his last four relief appearances. Parke has struck out nine in 7.2 innings.
STABLE BRIDGES
Freshman right-hander Sawyer Bridges pitched a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout in the 15-1 win over The Citadel. Bridges has 11 strikeouts in eight innings in seven appearances for the Gamecocks.
BLAIR
Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored in the 4-2 win over Alabama on Sunday. He has four stolen bases on the year and a .329 on-base percentage. Blair has played in 31 games with 18 starts.
SOUTH CAROLINA 2017 HONOR ROLL
Danny Blair
Rated No. 105 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 126 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Jonah Bride
Rated No. 25 best third baseman in the nation by D1Baseball (March 22)
Carlos Cortes
Rated No. 1 freshman in the SEC by Baseball America
Rated No. 1 impact freshman in the SEC by D1Baseball
Rated No. 4 best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 13 best freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 37 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 53 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Chris Cullen
Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
Rated No. 7 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 11 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 22 best catcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 22)
Rated No. 22 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 85 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
Wil Crowe
Named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 3rd Team (Baseball America)
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 7 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 9 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 16 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
Rated No. 17 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 19 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America (March 23)
Rated No. 23 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
Rated No. 36 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by MLB.com
Alex Destino
Preseason All-America 2nd Team (NCBWA)
Preseason All-SEC Team (Perfect Game)
Preseason All-SEC 2nd Team (SEC Coaches Poll)
Rated No. 16 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 19 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 21 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 45 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 83 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Adam Hill
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 11 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 15 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 34 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
Rated No. 49 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
TJ Hopkins
Rated No. 31 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 36 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 91 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Tyler Johnson
Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 1st Team (D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
Preseason All-SEC First Team (SEC Coaches Poll)
Preseason All-SEC Team (Perfect Game)
Rated No. 1 reliever in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 12 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 13 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 26 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
Rated No. 30 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Cody Morris
Rated No. 16 impact freshman in the SEC by D1Baseball
Rated No. 23 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 32 best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 62 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 159 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Brandon Murray
Rated No. 209 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Jacob Olson
Rated No. 34 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 101 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
John Parke
Rated No. 303 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Josh Reagan
Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 3rd Team (Collegiate Baseball)
Rated No. 12 best reliever in the nation by D1Baseball
Clarke Schmidt
Named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Preseason & Midseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 1st Team (NCBWA)
Preseason All-America 2nd Team (Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, Perfect Game)
Rated No. 8 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 9 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 10 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 10 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
Rated No. 12 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
Rated No. 22 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 25 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America (March 23)
Rated No. 35 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by MLB.com
Recognized as having the “Best Control” of all pitchers in the SEC by Baseball America
Madison Stokes
Rated No. 21 best shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball (Preseason)
Rated No. 188 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
LT Tolbert
Rated No. 25 best second baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 35 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 103 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
