May 7, 2013
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina (33-14) is back in action at Carolina Stadium on Wednesday night hosting Wofford (20-30). First pitch is 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Carolinas and Fox Sports South and can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
LIVE COVERAGE
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network affiliates/Flagship WNKT FM 107.5 “The Game” in Columbia. Derek Scott and Tommy Moody will call the action.
Television: Fox Sports Carolinas/Fox Sports South. Andy Demetra and Trey Dyson have the call.
Internet: Additional coverage on Twitter @GamecockBasebll
Live Gametracker Stats
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Wednesday
South Carolina – Curt Britt (Fr. RHP) 2-0, 4.96 ERA, 16.1 IP, 3 BB, 8 SO
Wofford – Matthew Milburn (Fr. RHP) 3-2, 4.29 ERA, 35.2 IP, 18 BB, 30 SO
A LOOK BACK
South Carolina is now 33-14 and 13-10 in the SEC after a pair of losses vs. top ranked Vanderbilt this past weekend. South Carolina is in second place in the SEC Eastern Division and fourth place overall in the conference standings. Both games were tight in Columbia with the Gamecocks and Commodores as Carolina fell 3-2 in the series opener followed by a 5-2 defeat on a Saturday.
SOME SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 28-2 this season when leading after six innings and 23-4 on the year when out-hitting the opponent. Carolina has allowed five runs or less in 38 of 46 games played this season (82.6 percent). The Gamecocks are 29-9 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 18-11 in games decided by three runs or less.
AT THE PLATE, IN THE FIELD & ON THE MOUND
South Carolina is hitting .282 (442-for-1566) as a team with 276 runs scored. The .282 average is fourth best in the league with Carolina leading the SEC with 41 home runs. South Carolina ranks third in slugging percentage (.423) and fourth in on-base percentage (.374) as well.
The Gamecock pitching staff owns a 3.07 ERA with 372 strikeouts to 112 walks in 419.0 innings pitched. The ERA ranks sixth best in the SEC. Opponents are hitting only .252 against the staff. South Carolina is fielding .972 as a team, eighth best in the SEC.
DANTZLER A CANDIDATE FOR THE GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD
South Carolina senior first baseman LB Dantzler is one of 60 players in the nation named to the 2013 Golden Spikes Award Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on May 2, 2013.
Dantzler is Carolina’s leading hitter with a .345 average (58-for-168) with 12 homers and 44 RBI. He currently owns a 10-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 24 straight games. His nine multi-RBI games leads the team with 14 multi-hit games tied for second highest on the team as well. He is third in the SEC in home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.649), fourth in total bases (109), tied for fourth in doubles (13), tied for fourth in walks (29), seventh in on-base percentage (.449), tied for 11th in hits (58) and 12th in batting average (.345). He had two hits in Friday’s 3-2 loss and tallied a base hit and a run scored in Saturday’s 5-2 defeat.
DANTZLER SUCCEEDING OFF THE FIELD
LB Dantzler is one of 10 NCAA baseball student-athletes selected as a finalist for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award ®. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website – seniorCLASSaward.com or on the Senior CLASS Award Facebook fan page through June 10. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner, who will be announced during the 2013 College World Series in Omaha.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Dantzler was South Carolina’s 2012-13 male nominee for the SEC’s H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year. With a 3.641 GPA in sport and entertainment management, he has been on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and spent two semesters on the Dean’s List. Dantzler has volunteered more than 50 hours at the Epworth Children’s Home, working on various projects. He also helped organize a fundraising effort for the orphanage through an area restaurant, and has made speaking appearances for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. For more information on all the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
Baseball Senior CLASS Award Finalists
Mark Appel, Stanford
Shane Basen, Charlotte
Chase Brookshire, Belmont
Boomer Collins, Dallas Baptist
LB Dantzler, South Carolina
Carlos Lopez, Cal State Fullerton
Alex Mendez, South Florida
Raph Rhymes, LSU
Chris Rowley, Army
Brandon Thomas, Georgia Tech
Dantzler has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team for District Four as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on May 1. Dantzler, South Carolina’s male nominee for the SEC Boyd McWhorter Award, has compiled a 3.64 cumulative GPA in Sport & Entertainment Management.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
The Academic All-District® teams (listed above) are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. This is the second year of the expanded Academic All-America® program as CoSIDA moved from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non Division I) and has doubled the number of scholar-athletes honored.
The expanded teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools.
The Capital One Division II and III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2012-13 DII and DIII Academic All-America® teams program.
Tyler Webb MAKES HIS MARK
Senior left-hander Tyler Webb continues to excel out of the bullpen with two more saves in the LSU series to extend his season total to 14. Webb pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday’s 4-2 win and followed that up with 1.1 perfect innings in the 4-0 victory. Webb has a phenomenal 0.59 ERA in 21 appearances with a 2-1 record and 14 saves in 30.1 innings of work. He has 44 strikeouts to just seven walks, opponents hitting .170 against him. He has not allowed a run in 19 of 21 appearances this year. His 14 save total for this year is sixth best in school history, seven behind the school record of 21 set by Blake Taylor in 2002. He is up to 99 career appearances; three short of the school record 102 set by Matt Price (2009-10-11-12). His 14 saves leads the SEC with eight of those coming in conference play, also the highest mark in league play.
He has pitched in relief in 87 of those appearances, with 70 relief appearances without allowing a run (82.3 percent). In career relief appearances he is 10-2 with 17 saves.
CAREER RECORD AT SOUTH CAROLINA
Appearances
102 Matt Price 2009-10-11-12
97 Tyler Webb 2010-11-12-13
SINGLE-SEASON RECORD AT SOUTH CAROLINA
Saves
21 Blake Taylor 2002
20 Matt Price 2011
20 Chad Blackwell 2004
19 Lee Gronkiewicz 2001
15 Scott Barber 2000
14 Tyler Webb 2013
Grayson Greiner SELECTED TO USA BASEBALL COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM
South Carolina sophomore catcher Grayson Greiner has been invited to the 2013 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, it was announced on April 24. Greiner was also invited to last year’s squad but was unable to participate due to his recovery from a knee injury.
Training for the team will run from June 21-July 2 in Cary, N.C. at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Team USA will travel to Japan from July 6-11 and are also scheduled to play Cuba from July 18-23 in various cites in the U.S.
Greiner is hitting .279 (41-for-147) with 20 runs and 28 RBI.
SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYERS & USA BASEBALL COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM
2013 – Grayson Greiner, C
2010 – Jackie Bradley Jr., OF
2007 – Justin Smoak, 1B
2003 – Matt Campbell, P
2002 – Landon Powell, C
1997 – Adam Everett, SS
1989 – Brian Williams, P/OF
1986 – Dave Hollins, 3B
Since 1978 USA Baseball has been the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of baseball. It represents the sport in the United States as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and internationally as a member federation of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).
A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH
Sophomore center fielder Tanner English provided a punch at LSU with outstanding defense coupled with two triples and two runs scored in the series. English’s RBI triple on Saturday was the game-winning hit in the 4-2 win over LSU. He made 18 putouts and tallied an assist also in the weekend series vs. the Tigers.
English is hitting .277 (31-for-112) with 19 runs scored and a team-high three triples. His .401 on-base percentage is second highest on the team.
ON BASE WITH CHASE
Chase Vergason tied a school record held by many with two sacrifice flies in the 4-0 win at LSU. Last player to accomplish the feat was Jake Williams on June 5, 2011 vs. Stetson. Vergason also scored two runs this week and tripled in the 4-0 victory.
Vergason owns a .268 average (44-for-164) with 30 runs scored and 20 RBI. He owns a .373 on-base percentage.
Vergason hit .400 (6-for-15) in the Tennessee series with four runs scored, a triple and a home run as well as four RBI. He went 2-for-5 with his first career triple, two runs and two RBI in the 19-2 win as well as 3-for-6 with a homer, a RBI and two runs in the 12-8 victory.
MAX IT OUT
Freshman second baseman Max Schrock was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk in a 4-0 win at LSU. Schrock is hitting .276 (45-for-163) with 31 runs scored and 32 RBI. He has 14 multi-hit games, tied for second highest on the team.
PANKAKE RISES
Sophomore shortstop Joey Pankake belted his ninth home run of the season in a 5-2 loss at LSU. Pankake is hitting .310 (54-for-174) with 29 runs scored and 32 RBI. He owns a .380 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage.
WESTMORELAND EFFECTIVE IN RELIEF
Senior left-hander Adam Westmoreland had two scoreless outings in Saturday and Sunday’s wins over LSU. Westmoreland picked up the win with one inning of relief in Saturday’s 4-2 win. He is now 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 18 relief appearances with three saves as well. Westmoreland has 45 strikeouts in 46.1 innings with opponents hitting only .208 against him.
BELCHER BRINGS IT
Senior left-hander Nolan Belcher had a quality start in Friday’s 3-2 loss. Belcher allowed three runs on six hits in six innings with a walk and six strikeouts. Belcher is 6-5 with a 2.21 ERA in 85.2 innings. He has 71 strikeouts and just 10 walks, opponents are batting just .227 against him. He ranks fourth in innings pitched, tied for sixth in strikeouts, eighth in opposing batting average, tied for eighth in victories and ninth in earned run average.
SAIKO LEADS IT OFF
Junior outfielder Graham Saiko doubled and scored a run in the 3-2 loss vs. Vanderbilt. Saiko has a .365 on-base percentage for the year with 28 walks to just 13 strikeouts. He is also second on the team with 10 stolen bases.
Saiko had a career-high four hits including his first career homer, drove in two runs and added three runs scored in the 10-6 win over College of Charleston.
BALANCE ATTACK
The Gamecocks had a balanced attack on the offensive side in the Kentucky series with seven different Gamecock players driving in at least one run as well as seven different players scoring at least one run. South Carolina hit .318 (35-for-110) for the weekend with a .372 on-base percentage. On the mound, the Gamecocks were solid as well with a 2.17 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.
HOLMES WITH THE ANSWER
Senior right-hander Colby Holmes became the 21st pitcher in school history to record 20 or more wins with his victory at Tennessee on April 7, 2013.
Holmes pitched three scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout in the 3-2 loss vs. Vanderbilt. Holmes lowered his ERA to 4.37 in 47.1 innings with 36 strikeouts and 15 walks
EVAN ALMIGHTY
Sophomore right-hander Evan Beal pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with just two hits allowed and a walk in the 5-2 loss to Vanderbilt. Beal lowered his ERA to 4.76. He has 35 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.
Beal was stellar in a start at Missouri. Beal allowed just one run on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work with one walk and a career-high 10 strikeouts in the 4-1 win over Missouri. Beal’s 10 strikeouts are also the most by a Gamecock pitcher this season.
SULLY
Senior right-hander Patrick Sullivan pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, a walk and two strikeouts. Sullivan lowered his ERA to 2.78 in 22.2 innings pitched, 15 appearances.
VINNY
Freshman left-hander Vince Fiori allowed one run on four hits in 2.2 innings of relief in the 5-2 loss to Vanderbilt. Fiori tied a career-high with four strikeouts as well; he previously had four K’s vs. Charleston Southern on April 2, 2013. He is 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA on the year in 12 relief appearances. Fiori has 19 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
