Baseball Hosts Winthrop Wednesday Night

March 8, 2017

Date: Wed. Mar. 8

First Pitch: 7 p.m.

Location: Columbia, S.C.

Stadium: Founders Park

Television/Video: SEC Network Plus (Burch Antley & Trey Dyson) Live SEC Network Plus Video

Radio: 107.5 The Game & The Gamecock Radio Network (Tommy Moody and Drew Meyer)

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (8-5) continues its homestand on Wednesday night hosting Winthrop (5-6) with first pitch at 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.”

BRETT WILLIAMS

South Carolina will honor the memory of White Knoll HS student-athlete Brett Williams before Wednesday night’s game. Williams, who had committed to South Carolina, passed away on January 17 earlier this year. Williams will be honored with a moment of silence before the contest. His parents Nathan and Laurie Williams will throw out the ceremonial first pitch with his brother Wesley Williams catching. Wesley is a junior catcher on Winthrop’s baseball team. A flag with Brett’s name and number 22 will fly on one of the flagpoles during Wednesday night’s game. The Gamecocks will also present the family Brett’s Gamecock jersey and the flag that will fly in his honor on Wednesday night.

RANKINGS

South Carolina is ranked in all six major collegiate rankings. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 7 by Perfect Game, No. 8 by D1Baseball, No. 10 by Baseball America, No. 13 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball.

PITCHING MATCHUP

South Carolina – Brandon Murray (Jr. RHP) 0-1, 10.12 ERA, 2.2 IP, 3 BB, 4 SO
Winthrop – Dalton Whitaker (So. RHP) 1-1, 15.88 ERA, 5.2 IP, 4 BB, 4 SO

RECAP

Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins homered twice and sophomore catcher Chris Cullen added a homer and a career-high five RBI as well as seventh ranked South Carolina belted out a season-high 15 hits on the way to a 12-5 win over The Citadel on Tuesday night at Founders Park.

Sophomore right-hander Graham Lawson earned his first victory of the season. He allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3.0 innings of relief work. Junior left-hander John Parke picked up his first save of the year after allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Eight of nine Gamecock starters recorded at least one hit in Tuesday’s matchup, with Chris Cullen and TJ Hopkins leading South Carolina at the plate. Cullen went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI, while Hopkins went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. Matt Williams and Jonah Bride also had multi-hit games with two hits apiece.

TO ARMS

The South Carolina pitching staff continues to impress as it limited Clemson to a just a .221 batting average in this past weekend’s series allowing 13 runs on 23 hits in 29.0 innings of work.

For the season, the Gamecocks own a team ERA of 3.03 with 138 strikeouts in 119.0 innings. The Gamecocks have allowed 48 runs, 40 earned, on 87 hits with 138 strikeouts to 52 walks. Opponents are hitting .201 against Carolina for the season. The opposing batting average is the best among the 14 SEC schools with the Gamecocks ranking second in strikeouts and fourth in earned run average. South Carolina ranks 11th in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings (6.46) and 25th in the nation in earned run average entering Tuesday’s game vs. The Citadel.

South Carolina’s pitching staff was strong the entire opening weekend vs. UNCG as the Gamecock pitchers combined to allow just three runs, one earned, on 10 hits with 27 strikeouts in 27 innings of work. UNCG, who led the NCAA in hitting in 2016, hit just .115 with a .149 slugging percentage and a .179 on-base percentage. The three runs allowed over the weekend was the lowest total of an opening weekend since the Gamecocks allowed just two in the opening series of 2004 vs. Charleston Southern.

AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD

The Gamecocks are hitting .280 (124-for-443) as a team for the year with a .359 on-base percentage and a .420 slugging mark. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 12 of 13 games this year. The Gamecocks are fielding .978 for the season and have played five error-less contests.

SUPERLATIVES

South Carolina is 8-2 on the year when scoring first in a game and 7-2 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 8-1 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 4-1 when scoring six or more runs and 8-3 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 3-4 in games decided by three runs or less.

START WITH CLARKE

Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt improved to 2-0 on the year with a win in Friday night’s victory at Clemson. Schmidt did not allow a run in 5.2 innings of work and struck out five. Schmidt owns a 0.48 ERA for the season having allowed just four runs, one earned, on 11 hits in 18.2 innings with 19 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .164 against him.

WILLIAMS IS A HIT

Junior first baseman Matt Williams currently owns a career-high 11-game hitting streak. For the season he is batting .405 (15-for-37) with a pair of doubles, five runs scored and five RBI. He has a .500 on-base percentage. Williams has put together three straight multi-hit games with two hits apiece twice vs. Clemson and most recently vs. The Citadel.

Williams was South Carolina’s top hitter in the Clemson series and hit .417 (5-for-12) for the weekend with a RBI and two runs scored.

WELCOME BACK WIL

Despite a no-decision, junior right-hander Wil Crowe put together a quality start in Saturday’s game vs. Clemson at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. Crowe allowed four runs on four hits in six-plus innings of work with two walks and six strikeouts.

For the season, he is 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts. He has allowed five runs on 11 hits in 17.1 innings with four walks to 22 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .175 against him.

TJ LEADS IT OFF

Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins won the Tom Price Award as MVP for the Gamecocks in the Clemson series. Hopkins’ top game of the weekend was Sunday when he went 3-for-5 with his second triple of the season and a pair of runs scored. He also had a key diving catch to record the final out in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson.

Hopkins is hitting .311 (14-for-45) for the year with a team-high 15 runs scored and a .396 on-base percentage.

Hopkins was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the 7-1 victory over UNCG on Opening Day. Hopkins also drove in a pair of runs in the victory.

HILL ON THE MOUND

Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill gave the Gamecocks a quality start in Sunday’s contest vs. Clemson. Hill allowed just one run, a solo homer, on five hits in 5.1 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Hill owns a 1.56 ERA in three starts having allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits in 17.1 innings with seven walks and 20 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting a miniscule .153 against him.

OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK

Sophomore utility player Jacob Olson tallied the Gamecocks’ first multi-homer game of the season in Tuesday’s 8-4 win over Appalachian State. Olson went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, a RBI and a run scored in Saturday’s 8-7 loss to Clemson.

Olson is third in hitting for the Gamecocks batting .304 (14-for-46) on the year with a team-high three homers, a triple and three doubles to go along with eight RBI and nine runs scored. He has a team-best .609 slugging percentage. Olson owns a team-high five multi-hit games.

JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT

Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson pitched a scoreless inning of relief for his fourth save of the season in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson. Johnson has four saves in five relief appearances. He has struck out 12 in 6.2 innings of work out of the bullpen.

Johnson struck out five of six batters he faced for his third save of the year in the 8-4 win over Appalachian State last Tuesday. He earned two saves the previous week with 1.1 innings of work in the 5-4 win over Charlotte followed by a scoreless ninth inning in which he struck out the side in the 4-3 victory over Wright State on Friday night.

CATCHING UP WITH CULLEN

Sophomore catcher Chris Cullen homered and was 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBI in Tuesday’s 12-5 win over The Citadel. He hit his first homer, a three-run shot, in the 8-4 win over Appalachian State.

Cullen is hitting .267 (8-for-30) with two homers, four runs scored and nine RBI. He owns a .405 on-base percentage in 11 games with nine starts.

BOWERS BRINGS IT

Senior right-hander Colie Bowers has not allowed an earned run in six relief appearances for the Gamecocks. Bowers has limited opponents to one unearned run on three hits in 9.1 innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .100 against him.

Bowers threw a scoreless inning of relief in Saturday’s contest vs. Clemson and allowed an unearned run on one hit in Sunday’s game.

DYNAMIC DESTINO

Junior designated hitter/outfielder Alex Destino is hitting .298 (14-for-47) with a pair of homers and a team-high 11 RBI on the year. Destino is tied for the team lead in doubles as well with three for the season.

REAGAN FROM THE LEFT

Senior left-hander Josh Reagan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with just one hit allowed and three strikeouts in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson. Reagan is 1-0 on the year with a 1.54 ERA in a team-high seven relief appearances. He has allowed just two runs on five hits in 11.2 innings with four walks and 14 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .128 against him.

THERE’S Hunter Taylor

Junior catcher Hunter Taylor is tied for the team lead with three doubles. He had a double in Saturday’s game vs. Clemson and three of his four hits of the season have been doubles. Taylor is batting .333 (4-for-12) with a pair of runs scored in six games and three starts.

THAT’S TOLBERT

Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert has raised his batting average to .294 (10-for-34) for the season including a 2-for-4 day at the plate in Sunday’s game vs. Clemson. Tolbert has a .351 on-base percentage and has fielded 1.000 at second base and shortstop.

BLAIR ON BASE

Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair is second on the Gamecocks in hitting .286 (12-for-42) with three RBI and four runs scored. He has a .348 on-base percentage.

Blair had his best series at the plate in a Gamecock uniform in his career as he went 6-for-11 (.545) to lead the Gamecocks at the plate in the UNCG series. Blair also scored a pair of runs, drove in two and stole two bags. He finished with a .545 on-base and slugging percentage as well.

STOKES IS RISING

Junior infielder Jonah Bride went 2-for-4 with his first homer of the year and three RBI in Saturday’s 8-7 loss vs. Clemson. Bride was South Carolina’s top hitter in the Wright State series going 4-for-9 (.444) with a run scored and a pair of RBI.

JONAH WITH A JOLT

Junior infielder Jonah Bride went 2-for-4 with his first homer of the year and three RBI in Saturday’s 8-7 loss vs. Clemson. Bride was South Carolina’s top hitter in the Wright State series going 4-for-9 (.444) with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Bride was 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the 12-5 win over The Citadel.

GREAT SCOTT

Senior right-hander Reed Scott has been a key member of the bullpen with five relief appearances in the first three weeks of action. Scott has struck out nine in 13.0 innings pitched.

ROW WITH IT

Junior infielder Justin Row went 2-for-4 with his first career triple in Saturday’s 8-7 loss to Clemson. Row is hitting .278 (5-for-18) with three RBI and three runs scored in six games played with four starts.

SCOUTING WINTHROP

Winthrop enters Wednesday night’s game with a 5-6 overall record. The Eagles are hitting .253 (92-for-364) as a team with a .353 on-base percentage. They are fielding .972 with just 11 errors on the year. The pitching staff has a team ERA of 6.56 with opposing teams hitting .289 against them.

Sophomore outfielder Hunter Lipscomb has been Winthrop’s key hitter in their lineup with a .273 average (12-for-44) with eight runs scored, a double, a triple, three homers and a team-high 15 RBI. Senior outfielder Anthony Paulsen has two homers and seven RBI as does senior outfielder Babe Thomas.

Winthrop will start sophomore right-hander Dalton Whitaker. He is making his fifth appearance of the year. He has allowed 10 runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

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. 50 best third baseman in the nation by D1Baseball

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
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. 18 best catcher in the nation by D1Baseball
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. 11 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 17 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
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

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. 49 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 57 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball

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. 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

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

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 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. 11 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 22 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
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

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