Jan. 13, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina baseball team has announced the addition of Shawn Valdes-Fauli to the 2005 roster. Valdes-Fauli, who left Miami (Fla.) in mid-season last year, will have two years of eligibility remaining as a member of the Gamecocks.
“The players, coaches and I are very excited to have a player with Shawn’s experience join our program,” said USC head coach Ray Tanner. “He comes from a great baseball school and will be a welcomed addition to our team.”
As a sophomore for Miami (Fla.), Valdes-Fauli posted a 5-0 record with five saves and a 3.02 ERA as the Hurricanes advanced to the 2003 College World Series. Valdes-Fauli made a team-high 36 appearances in 53 2/3 innings of work that season pitching in 18 of the last 29 games of the year. In that final stretch as the Hurricanes advanced through the postseason, Valdes-Fauli was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA as well as four saves. Valdes-Fauli pitched a career-high four 1/3 innings of relief against NC State in the NCAA Super Regional to earn the win and clinch Miami’s berth in the College World Series. In addition, the previous day he pitched one inning to earn the Hurricanes first win over the Wolfpack in the best-of-three series. Valdes-Fauli also earned a save and a victory for Miami (Fla.) in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional including three and 2/3 innings of work against Florida to clinch the regional championship.
Valdes-Fauli was 1-1 with a 4.29 ERA as a freshman in 2002 with 35 2/3 innings of work logged out of the bullpen. Valdes-Fauli also made an appearance in the 2002 NCAA Super Regional in Columbia vs. the Gamecocks in the top of the ninth inning of the final game retiring the one batter he faced.
The South Carolina baseball team is set to begin its first official practice on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at Sarge Frye Field. The 2005 season begins on Friday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. when the Gamecocks host Longwood University at Sarge Frye Field.
Over the last five seasons South Carolina has won more games than any other Division I baseball team in the nation with 260 victories. South Carolina has made three consecutive trips to the College World Series (2002, 2003, 2004), won two SEC championships (2000, 2002) and earned a SEC Tournament title (2004).
