March 7, 2011
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina continued the 2011 season with victories over Furman (14-1) and Clemson (6-3) as well as a loss at Clemson (10-5). Sunday’s loss snapped the nation’s longest winning streak of 14 games that began last year when Carolina won six straight at the College World Series.
Record: 8-1
SEC: 0-0
Home: 8-0
Away: 1-0
This Week: 2-1
3/1/11 – vs. Furman (W, 14-1)
3/4/11 – vs. Clemson (W, 6-3)
3/6/11 – at Clemson (L, 10-5)
Dating back to 2007, the Gamecocks have defeated Clemson in 13 of the last 19 meetings between the two schools
Sophomore first baseman Christian Walker continues to shine with the bat as he posted three multi-hit games this past week and has homered in three consecutive games for the Gamecocks. Key two-run homer that gave Carolina the lead for good in the 6-3 win vs. fourth-ranked Clemson. Also homered against the Tigers in Sunday’s game. Hit .600 for three games (6-for-10) with six runs scored as well as seven RBI. 2-for-3 with a season-high four RBI in the 14-1 win over Furman as well. He currently leads the SEC with a .545 batting average as well as a .625 on-base percentage and a 1.030 slugging percentage. He has eight multi-hit games in nine games this year for Carolina and owns a 14-game hitting streak that dates back to last season. He has four HR and 15 RBI on the year as well.
Junior left-hander Michael Roth improved to 3-0 with a win in Friday’s 6-3 victory over Clemson. Roth, who hurled a complete game vs. the Tigers last year at the College World Series, was effective again as he allowed three runs, all unearned, on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks in seven innings pitched. Roth is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in a team-high 19.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 21 batters to just six walks and opponents are hitting just .208 against him. Roth’s 21 strikeouts tie him for seventh in the SEC and his 19.1 innings is tied for third highest in the league as well.
Walker, Brady Thomas and Scott Wingo all had two-run homers in the 6-3 win over Clemson. The Gamecocks have 12 homers on the year with Walker leading the way with four and Jackie Bradley Jr. just behind him with three homers. Carolina is hitting .308 as a team (90-for-292) with a .400 on-base percentage and .521 slugging percentage.
Junior outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. homered in Sunday’s loss at Clemson. He also went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored in the 14-1 win over Furman. Bradley had a double and triple in the victory. Bradley is hitting .343 (12-for-35) on the year with 13 runs scored as well as three HR and nine RBI.
In a predetermined split, junior left-hander Steven Neff picked up the win vs. Furman with four scoreless innings of work. It was a career-high for innings pitched for Neff. He struck out a career-high seven batters and allowed just two hits to earn his first win of the year.
Junior outfielder Jake Williams went 3-for-5 with three RBI in the 14-1 win vs. Furman and also had a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a run scored in the 6-3 win vs. Clemson. Williams is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with three runs scored and five RBI.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Price picked up his third save of the year in the 6-3 win over Clemson. He hurled 1.2 perfect innings of relief and struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning. Price has three saves, tied for second highest in the SEC, in five relief appearances this year with five strikeouts as well in 5.1 innings pitched.
Next Week:
3/8/11 – vs. Clemson (7 p.m.) (Fluor Field/Greenville, S.C.)
3/9/11 – vs. Davidson (7 p.m.)
3/11/11 – vs. Cal State Bakersfield (7 p.m.)
3/12/11 – vs. Cal State Bakersfield (4 p.m.)
3/13/11 – vs. Cal State Bakersfield (1:30 p.m.)
