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Feb. 27, 2012

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina continued the 2012 season with a weekend sweep of Elon at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina defeated the Phoenix 8-1 in Friday’s opener, 3-2 in game two and 6-0 in the series finale. South Carolina is now 6-0 on the year and will next be in action on Tuesday, Feb. 28 hosting Presbyterian at 4 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.

Record: 6-0
SEC: 0-0
Home: 6-0
Away: 0-0

This Week: 6-0
2/24/12 – vs. Elon (W, 8-1)
2/25/12 – vs. Elon (W, 3-2)
2/26/12 – vs. Elon (W, 6-0)

The Gamecock pitching staff was impressive the entire weekend allowing just three runs, one earned, on seven hits in 27 innings of work with 32 strikeouts vs. the Phoenix. After six games, the Gamecock pitching staff is 6-0 with a 0.83 team ERA. The pitchers have allowed just seven runs, five earned on 18 hits in 54 innings while striking out 68 batters to just 12 walks. Opponents are hitting only .102 against them.

The seven-run total allowed by the Gamecock pitching staff through the first six games is the lowest run total to start a season since 1977, when the Gamecocks allowed just six runs in their first six games. 10 of 14 Gamecock pitchers that have seen action have not allowed an earned run.

All three Gamecock starting pitchers earned wins over the weekend. Senior left-hander Michael Roth hurled seven no-hit innings with seven strikeouts and three walks allowed to pick up his first win of the year in the 8-1 victory vs. Elon in the series opener. He is 1-0 for the season with a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings with 13 strikeouts to just three walks. The Gamecocks came within one out of a no-hitter in Friday’s victory. Junior right-hander Matt Price followed him up with five innings of one-hit ball in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Phoenix. It is the only hit he has allowed in two starts this year. He tied a career-high with eight strikeouts as well in the victory. Price is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 15 strikeouts to just four walks in 10 innings pitched. Junior right-hander Colby Holmes hurled 5.2 scoreless innings and limited Elon to just three hits in Sunday’s 6-0 victory over Elon. Holmes is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and has 12 strikeouts to just three walks in 10.2 innings of work. In 33.2 innings, the Gamecock weekend rotation of Roth, Price and Holmes has yielded only three runs on nine hits while striking out 40 batters to 10 walks allowed.

For the second consecutive week, junior left-hander Tyler Webb gave the Gamecocks a quality outing out of the bullpen. He tied a career-high with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief work and allowed just one hit and two runs, both unearned.

Sophomore right-hander Forrest Koumas picked up his second win of the season in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Elon. With runners on first and second base and two outs, Koumas struck out the final out to end the Phoenix’s threat and seal the Gamecock win.

Friday’s 8-1 win featured Christian Walker, who reached base all four times at the plate including two hits, a homer and five RBI in the victory. The five RBI tied a career-high. Walker hit safely in all three games of the series and owns a five-game hitting streak. He leads the team in hitting with a .381 average (8-for-21) with a homer and eight RBI.

Another key offensive contributor was freshman outfielder Tanner English. He scored a run in all three games and hit safely in all three games as well. English drove in three runs for the weekend with a key two-run triple to left-center in 6-0 win over Elon in the second inning. English is hitting .333 (7-for-21) for the season with five runs scored and five RBI.

Freshman shortstop Joey Pankake also had a knack for getting on base this weekend vs. Elon. He was 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored in the 8-1 win in the opener. He had two walks in Saturday’s victory and a hit and a run scored in the Sunday series finale. Pankake is hitting .263 (5-for-19) with five runs scored.

Junior third baseman LB Dantzler launched a three-run homer in the first inning of Sunday’s 6-0 win over Elon. Dantzler leads the team with two homers and nine RBI.

Junior outfielder Evan Marzilli has reached base safely in all six games. He is hitting .333 (8-for-24) for the year with a team-high six runs scored. He also has two stolen bases and has driven in three runs as well.

South Carolina hitters are hitting .292 (56-for-192) for the year with 35 runs scored. The Gamecocks own a .349 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage. South Carolina has played pretty clean in the field as well with a .982 fielding percentage and just four errors through the first six games.

Next Week:
2/28/12 – Presbyterian (4 p.m.)
3/2/12 – vs. Clemson (Charleston, S.C.) (6 p.m.)
3/3/12 – Clemson (2 p.m.)
3/4/12 – at Clemson (2 p.m.)