March 26, 2012
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina continued the 2012 season with a non-conference win vs. Furman at Fluor Field, a non-conference loss vs. Wofford and one victory in three games in the weekend series vs. top ranked Florida. South Carolina is now 17-7 on the year and 1-5 in the Southeastern Conference.
Record: 17-7
SEC: 1-5
Home: 15-3
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 1-0
This Week: 2-3
3/20/12 – at Furman – W, 8-5
3/21/12 – Wofford – L, 5-4 (11)
3/22/12 – Florida – W, 9-3
3/23/12 – Florida – L, 8-2
3/24/12 – Florida – L, 5-4
South Carolina is 11-6 in games decided by three runs or less through 24 games. The Gamecocks also own a 6-5 record in one-run contests.
South Carolina continues to lead the SEC in opponents batting average as opponents are hitting just .190 against the Gamecock pitching staff on the year. Carolina’s 2.74 team ERA is third best in the league with the squad at 228 strikeouts in 216.2 innings and just 77 walks.
Junior outfielder Evan Marzilli has reached base in all 24 games this year. He is hitting .337 (32-for-95) with 17 runs scored and 12 RBI. He owns a .417 on-base percentage. Marzilli’s 32 hits tie him for eighth in the SEC. Marzilli had four hits including a three-run homer in the 8-5 win over Furman and was 3-for-4 win the 9-3 win over Florida.
Freshman infielder Joey Pankake follows Marzilli in the batting order and he has swung the hot bat as of late. Pankake is batting .339 (21-for-62) including a 5-for-6 game with a pair of RBI in the 8-5 win over Furman. The five hit total is the most by a Gamecock player in a game this year and the most since Christian Walker on April 5,2 011 vs. USC Upstate.
Junior first baseman Christian Walker is hitting .314 (27-for-86) with six doubles, three homers and a team-high 22 RBI. His RBI total is currently tied for ninth highest in the SEC. He is also among conference leaders with 15 walks that ties him for 10th highest in the SEC.
Senior left-hander Michael Roth continues to give the Gamecocks stellar starts on the mound. In a no-decision, Roth went 6.2 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in the 9-3 victory over top ranked Florida. Roth is 2-0 on the year with a 1.28 ERA in 42.1 innings with 41 strikeouts to 10 walks. Opponents are hitting only .152 against him, the second best mark for conference pitchers. He has pitched the most innings of any pitcher in the SEC and his ERA ranks third best as well.
Junior right-hander Matt Price returned to the bullpen last week and figured in two of the three games vs. the top ranked Gators. Price earned the win on Thursday night in the 9-3 victory as he shut down the Gator offense with 2.1 innings allowing one run, unearned, on no hits with three strikeouts to earn a victory. Despite a loss on Saturday, he pitched well as he allowed just two runs on one hit in 2.1 innings in the 5-4 loss to the Gators. For the season, Price is 3-2 with a 3.73 ERA. He has 37 strikeouts in 31.1 innings and opponents are batting just .165 against him.
Junior left-hander Tyler Webb has continued to shine in his role out of the bullpen. Webb leads the SEC with 14 relief appearances. Webb pitched 3.2 scoreless innings with jus two hits allowed and two strikeouts in the 5-4 loss to Florida. For the season, Webb is 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Opponents are batting .141 against him.
The Gamecocks have also been playing pretty good defense with a .979 fielding percentage, third best in the conference and just 18 errors in 24 games played.
Head coach Ray Tanner picked up his 1,100th career win in the 8-5 victory vs. Furman last Tuesday. That game saw Marzilli and Pankake, the top two hitters in the Carolina lineup, a combined 9-for-11 with five runs scored and five RBI. TJ Costen and Tanner English were each 2-for-5 with a run scored as well. The Gamecocks tied a season-high with 16 hits in the victory.
South Carolina starter Jordan Montgomery was effective in 4.2 innings of work in the win over Furman. The freshman left-hander allowed just two runs on five hits with one walk and a career-high eight strikeouts. Six South Carolina pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts in the win.
Freshman Kyle Martin had a big pinch-hit two-run single in the 9-3 win over Florida. Martin is hitting .381 (16-for-42) with five RBI and seven runs scored.
Next Week:
3/27/12 – at The Citadel – 7 pm
3/30/12 – at Vanderbilt – 7 pm
3/31/12 – at Vanderbilt – 4 pm (CSS/Time Warner 506)
4/1/12 – at Vanderbilt – 2 pm
All times are Eastern
