Baseball Hosts Appalachian State On Tuesday

Feb. 27, 2017

Date: Tues. Feb. 28

First Pitch: 4 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); GamecocksOnline.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (5-3) hosts Appalachian State (4-3) on Tuesday afternoon at Founders Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”

RANKINGS

South Carolina is ranked in all six major collegiate rankings. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 4 in the USA Today coaches poll (preseason poll), No. 5 in the nation by Baseball America, D1Baseball and Perfect Game No. 6 by the NCBWA (last week’s poll) and No. 13 by Collegiate Baseball.

RECAP

South Carolina went 3-2 last week with a win over Charlotte, a loss to Kansas State and a series victory over No. 25 Wright State. The Gamecocks are 5-3 on the year.

TO ARMS

The South Carolina pitching staff continues to impress as it struck out 39 batters in 27.0 innings of the Wright State series and limited the Raiders offense to just a .219 average over the weekend.

For the season, the pitching staff has a 2.38 team ERA and has allowed 26 runs, 19 earned, on 50 hits in 72.0 innings with 81 strikeouts to 22 walks and a .190 opposing batting average. That opposing batting average ranks second in the SEC with the ERA and strikeout total currently third best in the conference.

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 .278 (73-for-263) as a team for the year with a .358 on-base percentage and a .348 slugging mark. The Gamecocks are fielding .971 for the season.

South Carolina hit .270 (27-for-100) in the Wright State series with a .360 on base percentage. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in all eight games this season.

SUPERLATIVES

South Carolina is 5-1 on the year when scoring first in a game and 4-0 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 5-0 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 2-0 when scoring six or more runs and 5-2 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 2-2 in games decided by three runs or less.

WELCOME BACK WIL

Junior right-hander Wil Crowe is now 2-0 on the year with a 0.79 ERA after allowing just one run on four hits in 6.1 innings with a walk and nine strikeouts in the 10-5 win over Wright State on Saturday afternoon. Crowe has 16 strikeouts to just two walks in 11.1 innings with opposing hitters .171 against him. He has allowed just one run on seven hits in his first two starts. Crowe is one of 18 SEC pitchers with two wins. He is seventh in the SEC in strikeouts and 12th in ERA.

Crowe struck out seven in five scoreless innings of work in his first appearance since April 10, 2015 in the Gamecocks’ 5-1 win over UNCG on February 18. Crowe allowed just three hits and one walk to earn the victory.

WILLIAMS IS A HIT

Junior first baseman Matt Williams has hit safely in six consecutive games. Williams has played in all eight games with four starts and owns a .412 batting average (7-for-17) with a pair of runs scored and four RBI. Williams had a key two-run single in the first inning of Friday’s 4-3 win over Wright State. Williams drove in four runs in the series.

START WITH CLARKE

Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt had a no-decision after allowing three runs, all unearned, on four hits in 6.1 innings with a walk and 11 strikeouts in the 4-3 win over Wright State on Friday night. Schmidt’s 11 strikeouts tied a career-high he set last year vs. Arkansas on March 18, 2016. Schmidt is 1-0 on the year with a 0.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13.0 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .146 against him. Schmidt is tied for sixth in the SEC in innings pitched, ninth in ERA and opposing batting average and tied for 10th in strikeouts.

Schmidt won on Opening Day vs. UNCG allowing just one run on three hits in 6.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

DYNAMIC DESTINO

Junior designated hitter/outfielder Alex Destino is South Carolina’s top run producer with a pair of home runs and a team-high nine RBI on the year. Destino is batting .323 (10-for-31) for the season with five runs scored and two doubles as well. He has a team-best .581 slugging percentage. Destino enters the week with a five-game hitting streak. He is tied for fifth in the SEC in home runs and tied for ninth in RBI.

JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT

Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson earned two saves this past 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. Johnson has five strikeouts in 2.1 innings in his two relief appearances this year. Johnson is tied for second in the SEC in saves.

OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK

Sophomore utility player Jacob Olson cleared the bases with a three-run double in the first inning of Saturday’s 10-5 win over Wright State. Olson is hitting .308 (8-for-26), third-best on the team, with a pair of doubles, four RBI and five runs scored. Olson hit his first career homer in the 5-4 victory over Charlotte.

BOWERS BRINGS IT

South Carolina is 5-1 on the year when scoring first in a game and 4-0 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 5-0 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 2-0 when scoring six or more runs and 5-2 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 2-2 in games decided by three runs or less.

BLAIR ON BASE

Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair is South Carolina’s leading hitter after two weeks of action with a .357 batting average (10-for-28). He also leads the Gamecocks with a .419 on-base percentage. Blair has reached base safely in all eight games this year.

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.

HILL ON THE MOUND

Despite the loss in Sunday’s 5-1 defeat to Wright State, sophomore right-hander Adam Hill was effective allowing just three runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Although he is 0-2 on the year, he maintains a 1.50 ERA and has 13 strikeouts to four walks in 12.0 innings. Opponents are hitting only .100 against him, ranking him third in the SEC.

STOKES IS RISING

Junior infielder Madison Stokes reached base in seven of 14 plate appearances vs. Wright State and hit .364 (4-for-11) in the series. Stokes hit a solo homer in Friday’s 4-3 win, doubled twice in the series and scored three runs. Stokes currently owns a four-game hitting streak. Stokes tied a career-high in hits in last Thursday’s loss to Kansas State going 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.

REAGAN FROM THE LEFT

Senior left-hander Josh Reagan has not allowed a run in four relief appearances this year. Reagan has five strikeouts in 4.1 innings with opponents batting .133 against him.

JONAH WITH A JOLT

Junior infielder Jonah 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.

GREAT SCOTT

Senior right-hander Reed Scott had a pair of appearances last week vs. Kansas State and Wright State. Scott owns a 2.25 ERA in 12.0 innings of work with nine strikeouts and opponents batting .227 against him.

Scott picked up his first save of the year going four innings in the 5-1 win. Scott allowed one run, unearned, on two hits in four innings with three strikeouts.

TJ LEADS IT OFF

Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins hit his first triple of the season in the 10-5 win over Wright State and 1-for-3 with two runs in the 4-3 victory over the Raiders.

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

THERE’S Hunter Taylor

Junior catcher Hunter Taylor had a career-high three hits and scored a run in the 10-5 win over Wright State. Two of Taylor’s three hits were doubles.

THAT’S TOLBERT

Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk in the 6-5 loss to Kansas State.

ROW WITH IT

Junior infielder Justin Row has played in four games with three starts and is hitting .273 (3-for-11) with a double, two runs scored and three RBI.

SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE

Appalachian State heads into Tuesday’s game with a 4-3 overall record. Head coach Kermit Smith is in his first season at the helm of the Mountaineers. Appalachian State is fresh off a three-game sweep over Gardner-Webb this past weekend.

Freshman infielder Calev Grubbs, a Lexington, S.C. native and a product of White Knoll HS, is the team’s current leading hitter with a .346 average (9-for-26) with two doubles and five runs scored. Senior outfielder Brian Bauk is App State’s leading run producer with six RBI to go along with a .318 average.

Sophomore left-hander Bobby Hampton won a midweek start last week with seven scoreless innings and just two hits allowed with nine strikeouts in a 3-1 win over VMI. Junior right-hander Reed Howell and senior right-hander Matt Brill each have saves out of the bullpen for the Mountaineers. Howell has seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings in three relief appearances and Brill has eight strikeouts in four innings in three relief appearances.

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

Brandon McIlwain
Rated No. 13 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 47 best overall sophomore 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