June 3, 2010
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Columbia, S.C. – The field has been set for the 2010 NCAA Baseball Regional in Columbia, S.C. at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina (43-15) is the No. 1 seed and will face the No. 4 seed Bucknell (25-33) at 7 p.m. on Friday. The No. 2 seed Virginia Tech (38-20) will face No. 3 seed The Citadel (42-20) in the opener of the regional set for 2 p.m. The NCAA Regional will run from Friday, June 4 to Monday, June 7. Carolina will be making its 11th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 12th under head coach Ray Tanner.
This is Carolina’s 26th overall appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. South Carolina has reached eight College World Series as well as seven NCAA Super Regionals.
The Gamecocks are one of eight teams from the SEC to play in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. South Carolina’s 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA Baseball Tournament (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) is the longest current streak of the 12 SEC schools. Carolina is one of only eight schools in the nation that has reached the NCAA Regional in the last 11 consecutive years.
South Carolina will start junior RHP Sam Dyson (5-5, 3.92 ERA) with Bucknell countering with junior RHP Dylan Seeley (5-3, 4.03 ERA).
NCAA DIVISION I SCHOOLS TO REACH NCAA REGIONALS IN LAST 11 CONSECUTIVE SEASONS
(2000-10)
1) SOUTH CAROLINA
2) Arizona State
3) Cal State Fullerton
4) Florida State
5) Miami (Fla.)
6) Oral Roberts
7) Rice
8) Texas
NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES FROM 2000-10 IN THE SEC
1 South Carolina 11 2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10
2. Arkansas 9 2002-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10
Florida 9 2000-01-02-03-04-05-08-09-10
LSU 9 2000-01-02-03-04-05-08-09-10
Ole Miss 9 2001-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10
6. Alabama 8 2000-02-03-05-06-08-09-10
7. Mississippi State7 2000-01-03-04-05-06-07
8. Auburn 6 2000-01-02-03-05-10
Georgia 6 2001-02-04-06-08-09
Vanderbilt 6 2004-06-07-08-09-10
11. Tennessee 3 2001-04-05
12. Kentucky 2 2006-08
2010 NCAA COLUMBIA REGIONAL SECHEDULE
Friday, June 4
Game 1 - (3) The Citadel vs. (2) Virginia Tech (2 p.m.)
Game 2 - (4) Bucknell vs. (1) South Carolina (7 p.m.)
Saturday, June 5
Game 3 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (2 p.m.)
Game 4 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (7 p.m.)
Sunday, June 6
Game 5 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (2 p.m.)
Game 6 - Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 (7 p.m.)
Monday, June 7
Game 7 - If Necessary (7 p.m.)
SOUTH CAROLINA NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD
(includes College World Series games)
Year Won Lost Pct.
2009 2 2 .500
2008 2 2 .500
2007 4 2 .667
2006 4 3 .571
2005 3 2 .600
2004 8 2 .800
2003 6 2 .750
2002 9 4 .692
2001 5 3 .625
2000 4 2 .667
1998 2 2 .500
1993 1 2 .333
1992 2 2 .500
1988 3 2 .600
1986 1 2 .333
1985 4 2 .667
1984 2 2 .500
1983 0 2 .000
1982 4 2 .667
1981 5 2 .714
1980 2 2 .500
1977 7 3 .700
1976 1 2 .333
1975 7 2 .778
1974 4 2 .667
Totals 92 55 .626
ALL-SEC HONORS
Senior right-handed pitcher Blake Cooper earned first-team All-SEC honors and sophomore outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and freshman reliever Matt Price received second-team All-SEC accolades highlighting the 2010 SEC Awards for the Gamecocks as announced by the conference office on May 25, 2101. Price, Christian Walker and Evan Marzilli were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team with Bradley and infielder Scott Wingo picking up SEC All-Defensive Team honors.
Cooper leads the Southeastern Conference in victories with a 10-1 record including seven wins in conference play, tying him for the most conference wins as well. Cooper has pitched a SEC high 104.0 innings and is fourth in the league in opposing batting average (.227), sixth in earned run average (2.94) and seventh in strikeouts (88). In SEC games, Cooper pitched a SEC-high 71.2 innings, was fifth in opposing batting average (.231), fifth in earned run average (3.01) and sixth in strikeouts (58).
Blake Cooper’s 10 wins on the year gives him 31 now for his career at Carolina and ties him for sixth on the South Carolina career victories list with David Marchbanks (2001-03), Matt Threehouse (1989-93) and Dennis Lubert (1979-82). His 31 career victories is tied for second highest among current players in Division I.
Cooper earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors in a 5-0 win over Ole Miss. Cooper struck out a career-high 10 batters in the victory, his fifth complete game of his career but his first career complete game shutout. He allowed just four hits and one walk as well.
Bradley leads the Gamecocks with a .372 batting average (73-for-196) with 47 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, nine HR and 43 RBI. He also has a .472 on-base percentage and .571 slugging percentage. His on-base percentage is ninth best in the SEC with his batting average also ninth best in the conference. He also fielded .992 in the outfield with five assists as well.
Price has been a stellar force out of the bullpen this season. The Gamecock closer is 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA and has seven saves in 41.1 innings pitched with 62 strikeouts and 17 walks. Opponents are batting just .187 against him on the year.
All seven of Price’s saves have come in SEC play that is the second highest total among SEC pitchers. His 16 SEC appearances tied for the league high in conference play.
Walker hit a team-best .359 in SEC games and owns a .308 average (53-for-172) for the season with six HR and 39 RBI. Marzilli played in 51 games with eight starts and hit .354 (17-for-48) and scored 18 runs and stole five bases. Wingo was stellar at second base and made just seven errors on the season with a .974 fielding percentage.
JUNIOR
Jackie Bradley Jr. leads the Gamecocks with a .372 batting average (73-for-196) with 47 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, nine HR and 43 RBI. He also has a .472 on-base percentage and .571 slugging percentage. His on-base percentage is ninth best in the SEC with his batting average also ninth best in the conference. He also fielded .992 in the outfield with five assists as well.
Bradley was stellar at the SEC Tournament batting 5-for-9 in the two games to lead the Gamecocks at the plate. He leads Carolina with 24 multi-hit games and is second on the team with 10 multi-RBI games. Bradley is in the middle of a career-best 11-game hitting streak as well. In that span he has batted .468 (22-for-47) with six doubles, a pair of homers and 12 RBI.
Last season, Bradley put on a show at the NCAA Regional in Greenville, S.C. as he was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team after batting .500 (9-for-18) with a pair of homers and five RBI in four games.
Bradley has been invited to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials set for July 5-July 11 at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Bradley will be fighting for a spot on the final 22-man roster that will be selected on Sunday, July 11. The team will then tour across the USA with the summer season culminating on July 30- Aug. 7 at the FISU World University Baseball Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Several former Gamecocks have played on the Collegiate National Team including most recently, Justin Smoak (2007), who made his Major League Baseball debut this past Friday with the Texas Rangers. In addition to playing for Team USA in 2007, Smoak also played on the 2009 USA Baseball World Cup team that won a gold medal last September at the IBAF World Cup. Smoak earned the 2009 Richard W. “Dick” Case Award recognizing him as USA Baseball’s Athlete of the Year. Smoak helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup in September in Europe. He set a U.S. World Cup record with nine home runs in the event, and he was named to the All-World Cup Team as well as the event’s Most Valuable Player. Smoak finished the tournament with a .291 average, and in addition to pacing the team in home runs; he also topped the club with 22 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Current Major Leaguers and former Gamecocks Landon Powell (2002) and Adam Everett (1997) also represented the Red, White & Blue on the Collegiate National Team. Everett also was on the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games. South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner also has association with USA Baseball. He has served five stints with the Red, White & Blue including his latest in 2003 as head coach for the USA National Baseball Team. At the helm of some of the top freshmen and sophomores in the country, Tanner’s club finished with a 27-2 record, the best record for a U.S. National Team (.931 winning percentage) and won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. He was named the U.S. National Coach of the Year for his work that season. Prior to his head coaching stint, Tanner served as an auxiliary coach for the 2000 Olympic Team under Tommy Lasorda that won a gold medal at the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. He was also an assistant with the 1995-1996 USA teams under former LSU coach Skip Bertman that culminated in a bronze medal win at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. Tanner also served alongside former Mississippi State coach Ron Polk on Bertman’s staff. Tanner’s first stint with USA Baseball came as an assistant coach to the national team in the summer of 1993.
COOP
South Carolina senior right-hander Blake Cooper has been named to USA Baseball’s 2010 Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The Golden Spikes Award is given to the top amateur player in baseball.
Cooper leads the Southeastern Conference in victories with a 10-1 record including seven wins in conference play, tying him for the most conference wins as well. Cooper has pitched a SEC high 104.0 innings and is fourth in the league in opposing batting average (.227), sixth in earned run average (2.94) and seventh in strikeouts (88). In SEC games, Cooper pitched a SEC-high 71.2 innings, was fifth in opposing batting average (.231), fifth in earned run average (3.01) and sixth in strikeouts (58).
Blake Cooper’s 10 wins on the year gives him 31 now for his career at Carolina and ties him for sixth on the South Carolina career victories list with David Marchbanks (2001-03), Matt Threehouse (1989-93) and Dennis Lubert (1979-82). His 31 career victories is tied for second highest among current players in Division I.
Cooper earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors in a 5-0 win over Ole Miss. Cooper struck out a career-high 10 batters in the victory, his fifth complete game of his career but his first career complete game shutout. He allowed just four hits and one walk as well.
On Tuesday, June 1, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 30 names. The final list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff — close to 150 voters in total.
The 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 13 on an award show via live telecast from Anaheim on GoldenSpikesAward.com, USABaseball.com and MLB.com in conjunction with All-Star FanFest. South Carolina has had one player in school history earn the award. In 2000, right-handed pitcher Kip Bouknight received the Golden Spikes after posting a 17-1 record
South Carolina Career Victories List
1) 45 Kip Bouknight 1998-01
(45-12)
2) 36 Tim Lewis 1973-76
(36-6)
3) 35 Aaron Rawl 2002-05
(35-15)
4) 34 Earl Bass 1972-75
(34-3)
34 Greg Ward 1972-75
(34-13)
6) 31 Blake Cooper 2007-present
(31-13)
31 David Marchbanks2001-03
(31-8)
31 Matt Threehouse 1989-93
(31-14)
31 Dennis Lubert 1979-82
(31-9)
South Carolina Career Innings Pitched List
1) 482.0 Kip Bouknight 1998-01
2) 370.0 Aaron Rawl 2002-05
3) 361.1 Jason Haynie 1993-96
4) 350.2 Matt Threehouse 1989-93
5) 345.0 Rich Pratt 1990-93
6) 344.0Blake Cooper 2007-present
South Carolina Career Games Started List
1) 66 Kip Bouknight 1998-01
2) 61 Jason Haynie 1993-96
3) 58 Rich Pratt 1990-93
4) 57 Blake Cooper 2007-present
PITCHING STAFF
South Carolina’s pitching staff has a tremendous season and it has shown with the Gamecocks ranking among the best in the conference and in the nation. Heading into the SEC Tournament, the Gamecock pitching staff leads the Southeastern Conference in earned run average (3.62), opposing batting average (.231), hits allowed (445), runs allowed (246) and is second in strikeouts (520).
South Carolina’s pitching staff had a tremendous weekend in Fayetteville, Ark. Heading into the week the Razorbacks were ranked second in the SEC in batting average, runs scored and slugging percentage. The Carolina staff answered the challenge and limited the Razorbacks to just five runs on 16 hits in 27 innings pitched. South Carolina’s pitching staff kept Arkansas at a .170 batting average for the weekend and the Gamecocks finished the series with a 1.67 ERA.
South Carolina also leads the Southeastern Conference in SEC games in opposing batting average (.243), hits allowed (238) and is second in earned run average (3.82), strikeouts (244) and runs allowed (134).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
The Gamecocks finished for the first time in modern history (1970-present) with an undefeated record in non-conference midweek games in the regular season with a 14-0 mark.
DYSON
South Carolina junior right-hander Sam Dyson earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors following his six-hit complete game shutout as the Gamecocks defeated nationally ranked Arkansas 5-0 clinching a three-game SEC baseball series at Baum Stadium. Dyson had a tremendous outing as he limited the Razorbacks, who came in ranked second in the league in hitting and runs scored, to just six hits and walked only two on the afternoon. He struck out eight batters and went to only three three-ball counts in the game. This was the second time this year that Dyson has earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. He also earned the award after he hurled a seven-inning complete game shutout in a win at Georgia on April 25. This is the fourth time this year that a Gamecock pitcher has earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors.
For the season, Dyson is 5-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched. He has 86 strikeouts and opponents are batting just .245 against him.
COLLEGEBASEBALLINSIDER.COM NAMES SOUTH CAROLINA TEAM OF THE WEEK
South Carolina was named by CollegeBaseballInsider.com “Team of the Week” after the squad went 5-0 winning a pair of non-conference games vs. Wofford and Charleston Southern and sweeping a three-game weekend SEC series at nationally ranked Arkansas.
40
With the 5-0 win at Arkansas, the Gamecocks have now won 40 or more games in 11 consecutive seasons. Heading into the year, the Gamecocks were one of only eight Division I schools to have won 40 or more games each season dating back to 2000.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Freshman right-hander Matt Price has been a stellar force out of the bullpen this season. The Gamecock closer is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA and has seven saves in 38.0 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts and 15 walks. Oppnents are batting just .184 against him on the year.
All seven of Price’s saves have come in SEC play that is the second highest total among SEC pitchers. His 16 SEC appearances is tied for the league high in conference play.
MAKING AN APPEARANCE
Another key ingredient of the bullpen has been sophomore left-hander Michael Roth, who has been key in a match-up situation. Roth is among SEC leaders with 29 appearances on the year. He owns a 1.45 ERA in 18.2 innings and has struck out 20 batters. Opponents are batting just .242 against him. He also has three saves.
MATA
Junior right-hander Jose Mata is another key ingredient to the bullpen. In 27 appearances, Mata has a 2.29 ERA with 35.1 innings pitched. He is 6-1 on the year. Opponents are batting just .214 against him.
HANEY GETS IT GOING
Senior shortstop Bobby Haney has been hot at the plate lately and had a nine-game hitting streak snapped vs. Auburn. That has helped him raise his batting average to .257 (44-for-171) for the season with 26 runs scored. Haney tied a career-high with four hits and three runs scored in the 11-6 win over Florida.
MERRIFIELD AT THE TOP OF THE ORDER
Whit Merrifield is now batting .329 (79-for-240) on the year with a team-leading 12 HR and 36 RBI on the year. He is second in the SEC in runs scored with 65 and leads the SEC as well with 13 sacrifice bunts. With 247 career hits, he is now eighth on the USC All-Time hits list. He is three behind Mike Curry (250) for seventh on the all-time list.
MERRIFIELD NAMED 2009-10 EARNEST BROOKS CO-MALE STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AT SOUTH CAROLINA
Junior Whit Merrifield continues to be one of the top bats in the Southeastern Conference and recently received 2009-10 Earnest Brooks Co-Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors at South Carolina along with men’s golfer George Bryan IV.
Earlier this year Merrifield set the school record for consecutive games with a hit. He hit safely in 26 straight games, 14 at the end of 2009 and the first 12 games of 2010. He has made 171 consecutive starts for the Gamecocks dating back to March 7, 2008.
MERRIFIELD ON CAREER LISTS
South Carolina Career Lists Runs Scored 1) 223 Derick Urquhart 1995-96-97-98 2) 215 Mike Curry 1996-97-98 3) 212 Drew Meyer 2000-01-02 4) 209 Mac White 1991-92-93-94 5) 190 Whit Merrifield 2008-09-10
Singles 1) 209 Drew Meyer 2000-01-02 2) 201 Michael Campbell2003-04-05-06 3) 198 Mac White 1991-92-93-94 4) 191 Andrew Crisp 2005-06-07-08-09 5) 182 Whit Merrifield 2008-09-10
Hits 1) 303 Mac White 1991-92-93-94 2) 299 Michael Campbell2003-04-05-06 3) 285 Drew Meyer 2000-01-02 4) 265 Landon Powell 2001-02-03-04 265 Derick Urquhart 1995-96-97-98 6) 262 Andrew Crisp 2005-06-07-08-09 7) 250 Mike Curry 1996-97-98 8) 247 Whit Merrifield 2008-09-10
BRADY BUNCHES THEM TOGETHER
Senior catcher Brady Thomas homered in the 3-1 loss vs. Auburn at the SEC Tournament and had a key two-run homer in the 5-0 win over Arkansas a few weeks ago. He is batting .333 (35-for-105) on the year. 20 of his 35 hits have been extra base hits (11 doubles, one triple, eight homers).
THE SWEEP
South Carolina’s sweep of Arkansas marked the first series victory over the Razorbacks since a series sweep in Columbia in 2001. It was the Gamecocks first series victory in school history at Arkansas.
SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is now 34-4 on the year when it out-hits the opponent and 33-8 when hitting at least one home run. The Gamecocks are also 30-6 on the year when scoring first in the game. Carolina holds a 35-1 advantage when owning a lead entering the seventh inning and 6-3 when the game is tied heading into the seventh. South Carolina is 16-9 in games decided by three runs or less.
WALKER ON A ROLL
Freshman Christian Walker is swinging a hot stick. Walker was 4-for-6 with three runs scored, four RBI and three doubles in the 13-9 win over Kentucky. The three doubles ties him for the school record for doubles in a game. Walker is hitting .308 (53-for-172) on the year with six HR and 39 RBI. He is hitting .346 in SEC games.
CAROLINA STADIUM RECORD SET
South Carolina set a Carolina Stadium record vs. Winthrop with seven home runs in the 14-6 victory. The two teams combined for 31 hits with the Gamecocks tallying 17 and Winthrop finishing with 14 for the evening. The seven home runs also tied for the second highest total of home runs hit in a game by a South Carolina team coached by Ray Tanner.
IF YOU BUILD IT – THEY WILL COME
The Friday game between South Carolina and Florida was the first official sellout in school history as 8,242 fans attended the game at Carolina Stadium.
For the Alabama series, the three-game total attendance of 24,204 was the largest for a weekend series at Carolina Stadium in school history. The previous high was 23,220 vs. Georgia from May 14-16, 2009.
SOUTH CAROLINA AT THE PLATE
South Carolina is hitting .299 (597-for-2000) as a team on the year with the squad’s on-base percentage .393 and slugging percentage at .498 for the season. The Gamecocks have scored 422 runs with 110 doubles, 12 triples, and 82 homers.
MORALES WITH A HOT BAT
Junior infielder Adrian Morales leads the team in RBI and doubles. For the season, he is batting .272 (52-for-191) with 12 doubles and five HR and 45 RBI. Morales hit .400 (6-for-15) for the Alabama series with a pair of RBI and four runs scored. Morales had a career-high four hits and drove in a pair of runs and also scored three times in the 20-15 win over Alabama. He also doubled twice in the 9-7 win over the Crimson Tide.
MARZILLI SHOWING HOME RUN POWER
Freshman outfielder Evan Marzilli has shown some pop in the bat recently and came of the bench with a pair of hits vs. both Auburn and Ole Miss at the SEC Tournament. Marzilli has primarily been a defensive replacement with 51 games played and just eight starts. He has been effective at the plate though, batting .354 (17-for-48) and has also scored 18 runs, tallied three doubles, hit a pair of homers and drove in six runs.
BANGS TIES A SCHOOL RECORD
Junior Parker Bangs tied a South Carolina single-game record with three doubles in the 6-4 loss vs. Alabama. In a limited role at the plate, Bangs is batting .271 (16-for-59) with three HR and 18 RBI as well as six doubles.
THE DEFENSE
South Carolina has been stellar defensively as the team has committed just 55 errors in 58 games with the squad fielding .975 for the season.
