May 9, 2013
| South Carolina (34-14, 13-10 SEC) vs. Georgia (18-28, 5-16 SEC) |
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| Date/Time | Friday, May 10, 2013 | 7 p.m. ET Saturday, May 11, 2013 | 1 p.m. ET Sunday, May 12, 2013 | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Columbia, S.C. |
| Radio | Gamecock Radio Network affiliates/Flagship WNKT FM 107.5 “The Game” in Columbia. Derek Scott & Tommy Moody have the call for games one and three. Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody have the call for game two. |
| Television | Game 1 – SportSouth (Andy Demetra, Trey Dyson) Game 2 – CSS (Mike Morgan, Joe Beckwith) Game 3 – SportSouth (Andy Demetra, Trey Dyson) |
| Watch LIVE! | Game 2 (ESPN3 – blacked out in SEC footprint)  |
| Live Stats | | | |
| Social Media | Facebook & Twitter |
South Carolina (34-14, 13-10 SEC) is back in action on Friday night beginning a three-game series vs. Georgia (18-28, 5-16 SEC) at Carolina Stadium. First pitch for the opener is 7 p.m. with the game televised live on SportSouth and available on the Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
South Carolina is in second place in the SEC Eastern Division and fourth place overall in the conference standings.
SENIOR DAY FESTIVITIES
South Carolina will honor its senior class before Saturday’s game at Carolina Stadium. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as pregame festivities are scheduled for 12:40 p.m. with first pitch at 1 p.m. Players being recognized are Nolan Belcher, LB Dantzler, Colby Holmes, Dante Rosenberg, Patrick Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Chase Vergason, Tyler Webb and Adam Westmoreland.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina – Nolan Belcher (Sr. LHP) 6-5, 2.21 ERA, 85.2 IP, 10 BB, 71 SO
Georgia – Sean McLaughlin (Fr. RHP) 4-5, 3.14 ERA, 63.0 IP, 17 BB, 43 SO
Saturday
South Carolina – Jordan Montgomery (So. LHP) 3-1, 1.96 ERA, 41.1 IP, 11 BB, 32 SO
Georgia – Blake Dieterich (Sr. LHP) 2-2, 2.59 ERA, 31.1 IP, 13 BB, 25 SO
Sunday
South Carolina – TBA
Georgia – Jared Walsh (So. LHP) 2-3, 2.05 ERA, 30.2 IP, 24 BB, 33 SO
LAST TIME OUT
Joey Pankake’s two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh sparked a six-run inning as 12th ranked South Carolina rallied for a 9-3 win over Wofford on Wednesday night in non-conference action at Carolina Stadium.
Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, Chase Vergason jumpstarted the Carolina rally with a one-out base hit. That set the stage for Pankake, who launched a 2-2 pitch from Wofford reliever Will Stillman over the right field wall for his 10th home run of the season and giving the Gamecocks a one-run lead. The momentum continued as Kyle Martin drew a walk, stole second and scored on Grayson Greiner’s double to center field. Consecutive wild pitches by Wofford reliever Connell Anderson allowed Greiner to score increasing the lead to three runs. After singles by Brison Celek and Sean Sullivan, the lead extended to 8-3 on a two-out two-run single by Tanner English. Carolina added a run in the ninth inning on a RBI base hit courtesy of Chase Vergason.
Senior left-hander Adam Westmoreland earned the win in relief after 1.2 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and a pair of strikeouts. He is 6-1 on the year. Stillman suffered the loss and is now 2-2 for the season. He allowed two runs on three hits in an inning of work.
South Carolina finished with a 12-8 advantage in hits on Wednesday night. Vergason went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. Schrock, Greiner and Sullivan had two hits apiece also.
SOME SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 28-2 this season when leading after six innings and 24-4 on the year when out-hitting the opponent. Carolina has allowed five runs or less in 39 of 48 games played this season (81.3 percent). The Gamecocks are 30-9 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 .284 (454-for-1601) as a team with 285 runs scored. The .284 average is fourth best in the league with Carolina leading the SEC with 43 home runs. South Carolina ranks third in slugging percentage (.426) and fourth in on-base percentage (.376) as well.
The Gamecock pitching staff owns a 3.05 ERA with 379 strikeouts to 112 walks in 428.0 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 .342 average (58-for-169) with 12 homers and 44 RBI. He currently has reached base safely in 25 straight games. His nine multi-RBI games leads the team with 14 multi-hit games third highest on the team as well.
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 FinalistsMark Appel, StanfordShane Basen, CharlotteChase Brookshire, BelmontBoomer Collins, Dallas BaptistLB Dantzler, South CarolinaCarlos Lopez, Cal State FullertonAlex Mendez, South FloridaRaph Rhymes, LSUChris Rowley, ArmyBrandon 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
WYNKOOP EARNS SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONOR
For two straight weeks in the end of April, South Carolina freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Wynkoop worked seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory at No. 2 LSU in the rubber game of a three-game series at Alex Box Stadium on ESPN. It marked the first series loss by the Tigers this year. Wynkoop never reached a 3-ball count in the entire stint and limited the Tigers, the second ranked offense in the league, to just five hits with no walks. Wynkoop combined with two other Gamecocks for the six-hit shutout.
He is now 6-2 on the year with a 2.66 ERA in 47.1 innings. It marked the fifth time a Gamecock has been honored in the SEC weekly awards.
GAMECOCK HONOREES BY THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Week 2 – LB Dantzler (SEC Player of the Week)
Week 4 – Joey Pankake (SEC Player of the Week)
Week 8 – Max Schrock (SEC Freshman of the Week)
Week 10 – Jack Wynkoop (SEC Freshman of the Week)
Week 11 – Jack Wynkoop (SEC Freshman of the Week)
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 doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one run in the 9-3 win over Wofford. He is hitting .287 (43-for-150) with 21 runs and 29 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).
GREINER ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR THE JOHNNY BENCH AWARD
Greiner is one of 48 catchers to be named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List as announced by the Greater Wichita Sports Commission and presented by BaseballSavings.com.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2013. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2013. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 15th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2013.
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 .276 (32-for-116) with 19 runs scored and a team-high three triples. His .397 on-base percentage is second highest on the team. English had a two-out two-run single in the seventh inning of South Carolina’s 9-3 win over Wofford on Wednesday night.
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 .278 average (47-for-169) with 31 runs scored and 21 RBI. He owns a .379 on-base percentage. Vergason tied a career-high with three hits, scored a run and drove in one run also in the 9-3 win over Wofford on Wednesday night.
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 led off with a solo home run in the bottom of the first in the 9-3 win vs. Wofford on Wednesday night. Schrock led off for Carolina for the first time since March 16 at Missouri. He finished with two hits and two runs scored.
Schrock is hitting .280 (47-for-168) with 33 runs scored and 33 RBI. He has 145 multi-hit games, second highest on the team.
PANKAKE RISES
Sophomore shortstop Joey Pankake’s two-run homer in the 9-3 win over Wofford was his 10th home run of the season.
Pankake is hitting .309 (55-for-178) with 30 runs scored and 34 RBI. He owns a .380 on-base percentage and a .511 slugging percentage.
WESTMORELAND EFFECTIVE IN RELIEF
Senior left-hander Adam Westmoreland won his sixth game of the season with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in the 9-3 win over Wofford. Westmoreland is tied with senior left-hander Nolan Belcher and freshman left-hander Jack Wynkoop for the team lead in victories.
He is now 6-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 19 relief appearances with three saves as well. Westmoreland has 47 strikeouts in 48.0 innings with opponents hitting only .207 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.
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. He had three more innings of relief with just one run allowed, unearned in the 9-3 win over Wofford.
Holmes lowered his ERA to 4.11 in 50.1 innings with 37 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.
BRITT SHOWS VERSATILITY
Freshman right-hander Curt Britt made his second career start in the 9-3 win over Wofford. He allowed two runs on four hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Britt is 2-0 with a save in 11 games.
SEDDON SETTLES IN
Sophomore right-hander Joel Seddon pitched one perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts in the ninth inning of the 9-3 win over Wofford.
He was stellar in his first start of the year as the Gamecocks defeated Davidson. He pitched four scoreless innings with just two hits allowed while striking out a career-high six batters.
Seddon is 1-1 with a 4.86 ERA on the year. He has 19 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched.
SULLY
Senior right-hander Patrick Sullivan pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, a walk and two strikeouts in the 5-2 loss vs. Vanderbilt.
Sullivan has a ERA of 2.74 in 23.0 innings pitched.
Head Coach Chad Holbrook Quotes
Opening Statement
Obviously, as they all are, it’s a big weekend for our team. It’s magnified by the fact that its getting closer to post season play and the end of the season. Standings are becoming more and more talked about because we only have six league games left. It’s always a great season with Georgia, highly competitive and you can throw records out the window. They have been playing better as of late and I know their record doesn’t necessarily indicate that but they had a big win over Georgia Tech, beat them 17-0. They had two tough losses to Arkansas that could have gone either way, very low scoring games. Obviously they did get a game against Vanderbilt, which we weren’t able to do and they’re coming off a big win last night on the road at College of Charleston. They’ve got some veteran players that have been through the wars of the SEC and we’ll have our work cut out for us. That being said, we are excited about the weekend. It’s going to be a special weekend for a lot of kids on our team, especially our seniors and we hope to send them out on a winning note.
On LB Dantzler’s status…
LB did not practice today and he’ll get treatment all day today and again tonight and first thing in the morning. I’m a little more optimistic about him playing this weekend then I was last night. That being said in what role or what capacity I don’t know yet. We’ll know more about his availability for the weekend probably tomorrow around 2 p.m. But the door is certainly not closed, I’m more optimistic today that I was yesterday.
