April 24, 2008
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina (31-11, 11-7 SEC) heads back into SEC action this weekend with a three-game series at LSU (25-16-1, 6-11-1 SEC) beginning on Friday night. First pitch in the series opener in Baton Rouge, La. is scheduled for 8 pm ET. Saturday’s game is at 4 pm ET with Sunday’s game set for 2 pm ET. All three games can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network and at gamecocksonline.com.
South Carolina currently sits in sole possession of second place, not only in the Eastern Division but also in the entire Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks are winners of 11 of the last 12 games played.
Friday
SC Mike Cisco, Jr. (RHP) 5-1, 3.99 ERA, 56.1 IP, 34 K, 12 BB
LSU Blake Martin, Jr. (LHP) 1-3, 5.14 ERA, 49.0 IP, 51 K, 20 BB
Saturday
SC Will Atwood, Jr. (LHP) 4-2, 4.02 ERA, 47.0 IP, 38 K, 21 BB
LSU Jordan Brown, Jr. (RHP) 3-0, 4.00 ERA, 45.0 IP, 42 K, 19 BB
Sunday
SC Blake Cooper, So. (RHP) 5-3, 3.05 ERA, 59.0 IP, 28 K, 13 BB
LSU Ryan Verdugo, Jr. (LHP) 6-3, 3.12 ERA, 52.0 IP, 44 K, 19 BB
Series Results
LSU leads series history 22-20-1
Last Year’s Games
March 16, 2007 South Carolina (5) LSU (0) Columbia, S.C.
March 17, 2007 LSU (6) LSU (5) Columbia, S.C.
March 18, 2007 South Carolina (9) LSU (5) Columbia, S.C.
A LOOK CLOSER AT SOUTH CAROLINA-LSU SERIES
South Carolina has had success vs. LSU in recent history with a 16-7 record vs. the Bayou Bengals dating back to the 2002 season. Included in that history is back-to-back sweeps of LSU at Alex Box Stadium in 2005 and 2006. The Gamecocks have won three consecutive series vs. LSU (2005, 2006, 2007). Carolina took two of three games vs. the Tigers last year. LSU leads the all-time series history, 22-20-1.
NUMBERS TELL A STORY
South Carolina owns a 25-0 record when scoring six runs or more this season. The Gamecocks are also 26-0 when out-hitting its opponent and 28-0 after leading in eight innings. When the Gamecocks score first, they are 24-5 on the year as well. South Carolina is 11-7 in games decided by three runs or less.
SMOAK’N
For the second time in eight days, junior first baseman Justin Smoak tied a school record with three home runs in one game including a sixth inning grand slam as South Carolina defeated Wofford 10-1 on Wednesday evening at Sarge Frye Field.
Smoak finished 3-for-5 with eight RBIs on the evening and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. He now owns a team-high 16 homers on the year and a school record career 55 homers.
Four times this season, the Gamecocks have tied the single-game school record for home runs in a game. Both James Darnell and Justin Smoak have each put together a pair of three-homer games this year.
Smoak tied two single-game school records with three homers and nine RBI as South Carolina defeated USC Upstate 14-4 on April 15 at Sarge Frye Field. Smoak finished 3-for-5 on the evening, as he became the 12th player in school history to record three homers in one game. His RBI total of nine marked only the fifth time in school history that the feat had been achieved and the first time since April 23, 1997 when Ryan Bordenick drove in nine runs vs. Clemson.
Smoak currently owns the school record in home runs with 55 in the Garnet & Black. He is also is seventh in school history with 49 career doubles (school record 67-Mac White) and is fifth in school history with 183 career RBIs (school record 198 – Mac White). He hit .583 (7-for-12) in the Ole Miss series, best average on the weekend for the squad. He had a 4-for-4 performance in Friday’s win as well as two hits in Sunday’s victory. He also is batting .420 (29-for-69) in SEC games.
TRACKING SMOAKHOME RUN CAREER TOP 10 LIST55 Justin Smoak (2006-07-08)48 Hank Small (1972-73-74-75)47 Garrett Carter (1985-86-87-88)45 Jeff Parnell (1990-91-92-93)44 Landon Powell (2001-02-03-04)43 Chris Boyle (1981-82-83-84)42 Steve Pearce (2004-05)41 Tripp Kelly (1998-99-2000-01)41 Charlie Aldrich (1985-86-87)38 Eric Stanton (1996-97-98)
RBI CAREER TOP 5 LIST198 Mac White (1991-92-93-94)198 Chris Boyle (1981-82-83-84)193 Landon Powell (2001-02-03-04)184 Hank Small (1972-73-74-75)183 Justin Smoak (2006-07-08)
DOUBLES CAREER TOP 7 LIST67 Mac White (1991-92-93-94)61 Landon Powell (2001-02-03-04)54 Michael Campbell (2003-04-05-06)53 Greg Morhardt (1982-83-84)51 Mike Curry (1996-97-98)51 Derick Urquhart (1995-96-97-98)49 Justin Smoak (2006-07-08)
RUNS CAREER TOP 9 LIST223 Derick Urquhart (1995-96-97-98)215 Mike Curry (1996-97-98)212 Drew Meyer (2000-01-02)209 Mac White (1991-92-93-94)182 Jeff Parnell (1990-91-92-93)181 Michael Campbell (2003-04-05-06)176 Landon Powell (2001-02-03-04)174 Garrett Carter (1985-86-87-88)167 Justin Smoak (2006-07-08)
HITS CAREER TOP 13 LIST303 Mac White (1991-92-93-94)299 Michael Campbell (2003-04-05-06)285 Drew Meyer (2000-01-02)265 Landon Powell (2001-02-03-04)265 Derick Urquhart (1995-96-97-98)250 Mike Curry (1996-97-98)245 Hank Small (1972-73-74-75)231 Dave Willman (1989-90-91-92)230 Skeets Thomas (1988-89-90)227 Jeff Barns (1985-86-87)225 Jeff Parnell (1990-91-92-93)224 Chris Boyle (1981-82-83-84)218 Justin Smoak (2006-07-08)
COOPER NAMED SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
South Carolina sophomore right-hander Blake Cooper has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week following his complete game six-hitter in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Ole Miss. The complete game victory was the first of Cooper’s career and the first by a Gamecock pitcher this season.
It also was the first complete game win by a Gamecock pitcher since Wynn Pelzer’s CG in a win over Evansville to capture the 2006 NCAA Regional in Charlottesville, Va. Cooper allowed just one run on six hits while striking out two and walking two to pick up the victory. He is 5-3 on the year with a 3.05 ERA in 59 innings pitched. His 59 innings, leads the team and the SEC.
AT THE PLATE, ON THE MOUND & IN THE FIELD
Carolina leads the SEC in home runs on the year with 77 in 42 games. The team is batting .304 (448-for-1472) with 307 runs scored in 42 games. The pitching staff owns a team ERA of 3.71 in 381 innings with 341 strikeouts to 141 walks. Carolina is fielding .978 as a team.
THE HOME RUN
The Gamecocks have 33 home runs in the last 14 games as well. Four different Gamecocks have double figure home run totals: James Darnell (13), Phil Disher (14), Reese Havens (12) and Justin Smoak (16).
QUICK RECAP OF LAST WEEK
South Carolina went 4-1 last week with a pair of non-conference wins vs. USC Upstate (14-4) and at Clemson (6-0) as well as a pair of wins to take the SEC series vs. Ole Miss. The Gamecocks are 11-7 in SEC play, second both overall in the SEC and in the Eastern Division.
A CLOSER LOOK BACK AT THE OLE MISS SERIES
The home team continues to have success in the series between Ole Miss and South Carolina. Dating back to 1999, the home team has won every series between the two schools. South Carolina has won six straight series in Columbia vs. the Rebels dating back to the 1997 season (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008). Carolina leads the all-time series 25-16 vs. Ole Miss.
THE CISCO KID
Junior right-hander Mike Cisco improved to 5-1 with the win in Friday’s 6-2 win over Ole Miss. He allowed just one run on eight hits in 6.2 innings of work. Cisco owns a 3.99 ERA after 56.1 innings of work and has struck out 34 to 12 walks.
GAMECOCKS DEFEAT FURMAN IN FRONT OF PACKED CROWD AT FLUOR FIELD
Phil Disher’s three run-homer in the top of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped lead South Carolina to a 5-3 win over Furman on Tuesday evening in front of a packed crowd of 6,241 fans at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. The Gamecocks have won 10 of their last 11 games played.
With the score deadlocked at two apiece in the top of the ninth inning, the Gamecocks made their move against the Paladins. A pitch to lead off the inning hit Whit Merrifield and Justin Smoak laced a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third base. With one out and Furman closer Nick Karow summoned to the mound for the Paladins, Phil Disher stepped to the plate and drilled the first pitch from Karow to left center for a three-run home run to give Carolina a three-run lead. It was Disher’s team-leading 14th of the season.
Furman didn’t go away though against Gamecock closer Brandon Todd in the bottom of the ninth. Todd set down the first two Furman hitters but then gave up back-to-back doubles to Bobby Hubbard and Ryan Lee followed by a single from Reese Wade that scored a Furman run and brought the winning run to the plate in third baseman Justin Harrison. With a 3-2 count, Todd coaxed Harrison into groundout to shortstop Reese Havens, preserving the Gamecock victory.
Gamecock reliever Parker Bangs earned the win out of the bullpen with 0.2 scoreless innings and a strikeout. He is 3-1 this season. Furman reliever Ian Parry suffered the loss and is 3-2 on the year. He allowed three runs, all earned, on two hits in 3.1 innings. Todd earned his fifth save of the season.
THE WILL TO WIN
Junior left-hander Will Atwood currently owns a 4-2 record with a 4.02 ERA. He has worked 47 innings and has struck out 38 batters with opponents only hitting .227 against him. He has won four of his six SEC starts.
A STRONG DISH IN THE CLUTCH
Senior Phil Disher’s three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning lifted Carolina to a 5-3 win over Furman on Tuesday night. Disher is hitting .292 (45-for-154) with 14 HR and 42 RBI as well. With 37 career homers, Disher is one shy of joining the top 10 list in Carolina history.
He put together his second career multi-homer game in the 8-6 win over Auburn. His two-run homer in that game helped Carolina rally to the victory. Disher went 5-for-12 in the series with three doubles, two homers and four RBI.
Seven of his 14 homers have come in SEC games.
Disher was big in the Kentucky series going 5-for-12 with a home run and team-high seven RBI in the series to earn SEC Player of the Week honors. Disher’s home run came in Saturday’s victory over Kentucky and was his 30th career homer in a Gamecock uniform. The senior came up in the clutch again for Carolina on Sunday with a pair of RBI singles including the game-winning hit in the eighth inning.
DARNELL DRIVES THEM IN
Junior third baseman James Darnell hit his second grand slam of the season, the key hit for Carolina in the 6-2 victory over the Rebels last Friday. Darnell is hitting .320 with 13 HR and a team-high 56 RBI. Six of Darnell’s 13 homers have come in SEC games.
For the third time this season, James Darnell recorded a multi-homer game as he hit a pair of home runs and tallied five RBI in a 7-1 win over Clemson. Earlier this year, Darnell twice tied a USC single-game record for home runs in a game with three in a win vs. Kentucky (3-29) and in a win vs. College of Charleston (3-18).
The three vs. Kentucky marked the 12th time in school history that a Gamecock player has hit three homers in one game and the first time ever that one player has done it twice. All three homers were two-run shots as he set a career-high with six RBI in the contest. That helped Darnell earned National Player of the Week from Collegiate Baseball.
A LITTLE MORE ON DARNELL & DISHER
Disher and Darnell’s home runs several weeks ago put both players at the 30-home run mark in career numbers for the Gamecocks. Disher currently has 37 career homers with Darnell at 35. Both players are two of 23 players in school history to have 30 or more home runs in a Gamecock uniform.
COMPLETE PERFORMANCES
South Carolina continues to be impressive in 31 victories this season with a total of 279 runs in those wins. That averages to 9.0 runs per contest. 13 of the 31 wins on the year have featured at least 10 runs scored by the Gamecock offense.
HAVENS AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE
Junior shortstop Reese Havens continues to lead the team in hitting with a .394 batting average (65-for-165) and also owns 12 HR and 42 RBI. He has scored a team-high 49 runs. Havens has hit safely in 12 straight games. Havens had three hits on Wednesday at Clemson and reached base in all five plate appearances on Tuesday vs. USC Upstate with three hits, two walks and four runs scored. He has spent all 41 games this year at the front of the lineup as the leadoff hitter.
Havens earned SEC Player of the Week honors following his performance on opening weekend vs. East Carolina. Havens was 7-for-14 (.500) for the series with a pair of homers, six RBI and seven runs scored. His five hits in the season opener tied his career-high and he set a career-high as well with five RBI in the 22-5 win over the Pirates.
BT
Senior right-hander Brandon Todd made his first appearance in over a week and earned a save in the 5-3 win at Furman on April 22. He is 2-1 on the year with a 2.93 ERA and five saves. He has 12appearances and has struck out 20 batters in 15.1 innings, opponents only batting .267 against him.
Todd was also productive out of the bullpen two weeks ago with a pair of saves and a win in five games. Todd earned his first save of the week on Tuesday vs. Western Carolina. He worked 1.1 innings and struck out two to finish the game. “BT” would then pick up a win on Friday night with two innings of work, allowing one run on three hits in the 7-6 victory over Auburn. Todd was summoned for the final two outs in Sunday’s 7-6 win over the Tigers.
THOMAS MAKES AN APPEARANCE
Junior left-hander Craig Thomas leads the Gamecocks in appearances on the year with 15 this season. He has 22 strikeouts in 22.0 innings and has a 4.09 ERA. Thomas hurled one scoreless inning of relief in the 10-1 win vs. Wofford on Wednesday night.
Parker Bangs ENTERS THE MIX
Freshman RHP/UT Parker Bangs improved to 3-1 on the year out of the bullpen with a win on Tuesday vs. Furman. Bangs owns a 3.72 ERA in 12 relief appearances and has pitched 19.1 innings and struck out 27 batters. He also has one save. Opponents are only batting .205 against him.
He had his biggest week as a member of the Carolina baseball team in Auburn when he made two key relief appearances in a pair of wins vs. Auburn this weekend and picked up his first career save on Saturday. His first relief appearance on Friday night saw him go one inning scoreless with two strikeouts.
He then helped out with both the arm and the bat on Saturday as he got his second career start at designated hitter. Bangs went 2-for-4 with his first career homer in the 8-6 win. He then worked the final two innings of the game to pick up the save. Bangs also started at DH on Sunday and recorded a hit.
