April 7, 2014
South Carolina-Furman Game Notes 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (26-5) is back in action on Tuesday night vs. Furman (11-21) at Fluor Field in Greenville. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. It be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game,” with Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody on the call.
South Carolina is ranked No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball and the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll as well as No. 5 by Baseball America and Perfect Game.
LIVE COVERAGE
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network; Flagship 107.5 FM The Game. Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody call the action.
Internet: Additional coverage on Twitter @GamecockBasebll and Facebook/Gamecocksonline
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Live Stats
Live Stats
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Tuesday
South Carolina – Evan Beal (Jr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.1 IP, 1 BB, 6 SO
Furman – Ryan Dittmar (Sr. LHP) 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 2 BB, 8 SO
A LOOK BACK
South Carolina went 2-2 last week with a 2-1 win vs. Appalachian State and a one win in three games at Arkansas. The Gamecocks are 26-5 and 7-5 in the SEC. South Carolina is tied for first place in the SEC Eastern Division and tied for second overall, just one game back of Alabama.
FLUOR FIELD HISTORY
South Carolina is 8-3 all-time in games played at Fluor Field including a 5-2 mark vs. Furman. The Gamecocks and Paladins have met every year at Fluor Field since 2006 with 2007 the lone exception.
South Carolina at Fluor Field5/16/2006 vs. Furman W, 15-124/22/08 vs. Furman W, 5-33/18/09 vs. Furman W, 15-03/6/10 vs. Clemson W, 7-53/16/10 vs. Furman W, 15-03/8/11 vs. Clemson W, 5-43/15/11 vs. Furman L, 4-23/20/12 vs. Furman W, 8-53/2/13 vs. Clemson L, 6-34/3/13 vs. Furman L, 6-53/1/14 vs. Clemson W, 10-2
LAST TIME VS. FURMAN
South Carolina broke out to a three-run lead in the first two innings and six pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Gamecocks defeated Furman 5-0 on March 11, 2014.
Freshman right-hander Taylor Widener earned his first career win in a predetermined split. He allowed just a hit and two walks in 3.1 innings. Trey McNickle, Josh Reagan, Reed Scott, Hunter Privette and Cody Mincey all had scoreless outings as well.
The Gamecocks broke ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Connor Bright reached base on a one-out single, Grayson Greiner drew a two-out walk and Elliot Caldwell knocked a RBI single up the middle to score Bright.
That lead increased to 3-0 as Carolina took advantage of a pair of Furman errors. DC Arendas walked with one out and advanced to second on a failed pickoff by Greenfield. He would score on Tanner English’s two-out single to right field. After Marcus Mooney reached on a fielding error by Furman third baseman Chris Ohmsted, the Gamecocks scored the third run on a RBI double off the bat of Bright, his team-leading ninth of the season.
Caldwell’s second RBI hit of the evening increased the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning. Greiner would knock a two-out double to left-center and score on Caldwell’s base hit up the middle. Kyle Martin added a solo homer in the seventh inning to give the Gamecocks a 5-0 advantage. Martin’s homer was his third of the year.
BEAL BRINGS IT
South Carolina junior right-hander Evan Beal will make his third start and appearance of the season. Beal pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in his second start of the year in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Appalachian State. Beal has not allowed a run in two starts with just two hits and one walk allowed in 9.1 innings. Beal will also make his third appearance vs. the Paladins. Beal recorded a save in the 8-5 win vs. Furman in 2012.
PANKAKE WARMING UP
Junior infielder Junior infielder Joey Pankake’s season-high hitting streak ended at 16 games at Arkansas. Despite it being snapped, Pankake is hitting .330 (36-for-109) with a team-high 32 runs scored, three homers and 18 RBI. Pankake has a .415 on-base percentage and a .459 slugging percentage. He has 13 walks to 11 strikeouts. Pankake’s .362 average (17-for-47) in SEC games leads the team.
CARDIAC GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks have won five games this season when trailing entering the seventh inning including three wins when trailing entering the ninth inning.
Most recently the Gamecocks rallied for two runs in the top of the eighth inning to pick up a 2-1 comeback victory at Arkansas on April 4, 2014. Trailing 1-0 entering the top of the eighth inning, the Gamecocks broke through as DC Arendas got things started with a one-out double to the gap in right-center. He would score in the next at bat as Tanner English knocked a RBI double down the left field line. With two outs and English still on second base, Marcus Mooney hit a RBI single into right field giving the Gamecocks the lead.
South Carolina is outscoring opponents 60-8 from the seventh inning through extra innings on the year. From the sixth inning to the end, South Carolina is also outscoring opponents 90-19.
NINTH INNING RALLY
South Carolina rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the top of the ninth with four runs in a 5-3 win at Clemson on March 2, 2014. Four consecutive two-out hits in the top of the ninth inning led to four runs. Trailing 3-1 entering the top of the ninth inning, the Gamecocks got things started with a base hit up the middle of the bat of Kyle Martin. With two outs and Martin still on first base, Grayson Greiner kept the inning alive with a single up the middle as well. Pinch hitter Brison Celek fought to a 2-2 count against Clemson reliever Clate Schmidt before knocking a base hit into left field to load the bases. That set the stage for sophomore shortstop Marcus Mooney, who jumped on the first pitch from Schmidt for a single into center field. Martin scored as did Greiner to tie the game. It was a tight play at the plate as center fielder Tyler Slaton’s throw made it to home plate, but Clemson catcher Chris Okey was unable to hold on to the ball on a tag attempt as Greiner was sliding in for the tying run. With runners on second and third, Tanner English fought off a pair of two strike pitches and then belted a double to left field scoring both runners and giving the Gamecocks a two-run lead. Junior right-hander Cody Mincey retired all three Tiger batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the Carolina victory.
On March 15, 2014, the Gamecocks rallied from three runs down with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Ole Miss 5-4 in 10 innings. A two-out RBI single by Connor Bright and a two-run homer by pinch hitter Max Schrock tied it in the ninth with pinch hitter Brison Celek winning it for the Gamecocks in the 10th frame with a RBI single.
On March 29, 2014, Grayson Greiner’s walk-off grand slam capped a six-run bottom of the ninth inning as South Carolina rallied from three runs down with two outs and no runners on base to defeat Tennessee 9-6 for a second consecutive walk-off win on the afternoon. Trailing 6-3 and down to its final at-bat the Gamecocks made their final rally push as pinch hitter Brison Celek kept the inning alive with a base hit to center field. The rally then continued with Max Schrock as the sophomore drove a 1-1 pitch to right field from reliever Josh Peterson just fair of the foul pole in right field for a home run cutting the deficit to one run. After the Volunteers made a change to left-hander Drake Owenby, the Gamecocks stayed alive as a fly ball off the bat of Joey Pankake was mishandled by right fielder Scott Price putting the tying run on second base. Kyle Martin drew a walk and Connor Bright was hit on a 2-2 pitch from Owenby to load the bases and set the stage for Greiner. Tennessee would make one more change as right-hander Peter Lenstrom entered from the bullpen. On a 1-0 pitch, Greiner belted the game-winning homer to left field setting off a frenzy in Carolina Stadium. It was Greiner’s fourth home run of the season.
MONTGOMERY GETS IT STARTED
Junior left-hander Jordan Montgomery improved to 4-2 with a victory in Friday’s 2-1 win over Arkansas. He pitched seven-plus innings and allowed one run on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. His nine strikeouts tied a season high he set vs. Clemson on February 28. Montgomery has 47 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched, a team-high. Opponents are hitting .249 against him. He owns a 3.83 ERA on the year.
SEDDON SEALS IT
Junior right-hander Joel Seddon is now 8-for-8 in save opportunities this year after a perfect ninth inning in the 2-1 victory. Seddon has not allowed a run in 13 relief appearances with just four hits and three walks in 17.0 innings pitched. He has 25 strikeouts with opponents hitting .073 against him.
MINCEY WITH AN APPEARANCE
Junior right-hander Cody Mincey had a scoreless inning of relief in the 2-1 win over Arkansas. Mincey is 2-0 with a 0.42 ERA in 21.1 innings with a team-high 16 relief appearances. He has 31 strikeouts with opponents batting .132 against him. He has allowed just one run on nine hits this year.
GREINER SHINES
Junior catcher Grayson Greiner was named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List for the top catcher in college baseball.
Greiner was named SEC Player of the Week on March 31 after his play in the Tennessee series. Greiner hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to lift South Carolina to a 9-6 win over Tennessee on Saturday. His play along with Jordan Gore’s walk-off homer was No. 1 on ESPN’s SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day.
Greiner is hitting .327 (33-for-101) for the season with 21 runs scored, five doubles, four homers and 30 RBI. He has a .402 on-base percentage and a .495 slugging mark.
Greiner won the Tom Price award as the MVP for South Carolina in the weekend series vs. Clemson. Greiner hit .400 (4-for-10) for the weekend with four runs scored. His grand slam homer helped lift South Carolina to a 9-6 win. He had a team-high four walks on the weekend as well.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Sophomore left-hander Jack Wynkoop has been very effective in nine appearances with eight starts this year. Wynkoop is 5-2 with a 2.49 eRA in 47.0 innings. He has 41 strikeouts and just seven walks. Wynkoop also leads the Gamecocks with four pickoffs, that mark is tied for the league lead.
Wynkoop pitched 7.1 scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters in a 2-0 win over Eastern Kentucky on February 22. He allowed just three hits and one walk.
CROWE MAKES AN IMPACT
Freshman right-hander Wil Crowe is among league leaders with a 6-1 record and a 2.08 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting only .231 against him.
Crowe was honored twice by the Southeastern Conference in the first two weeks of the regular season. On February 24, he earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after working 6.1 scoreless innings in a 6-0 win over Eastern Kentucky with just four hits allowed and one walk to pick up his second win of the season.
The first week, Crowe was SEC Pitcher of the Week. He had an impressive debut as he hurled 6.1 hitless innings in his first career start. Crowe walked just one and hit one batter while finishing with five strikeouts to earn his first career win in a Gamecock uniform. Bucknell had just one runner reach second base and none reach third base while Crowe was on the mound. Crowe retired 13 consecutive batters in a row before coming out of the game as he reached his pitch count total.
GREAT SCOTT
Freshman right-hander Reed Scott has been effective in a middle relief role for the Gamecocks. Scott pitched six scoreless innings of relief to earn his first career win in a Gamecock uniform and kept the Gamecocks alive in a 9-6 come-from-behind victory vs. Tennessee.
Scott is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA on the year. He has allowed just two runs on 10 hits in 19.0 innings, opponents hitting .161 against him.
K-MART
Junior first baseman Kyle Martin is hitting .319 (37-for-116) with 22 runs scored, five doubles, three homers and 15 RBI. He is tied for the team lead with 14 walks. He has played a strong first base with just one throwing error and a .996 fielding percentage.
CALDWELL
Junior outfielder Elliott Caldwell has played 29 games with 26 starts and is hitting .280 (26-for-93).
His top weekend was vs. Tennessee as he hit .462 (6-for-13) in the series. Caldwell went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in the 8-0 win over the Volunteers.
A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH
Junior outfielder Tanner English was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI double in the 2-1 win at Arkansas. English is batting .294 (30-for-102) with 14 runs scored and 18 RBI.
VINNY
Junior left-hander Vince Fiori earned the win on Tuesday vs. Appalachian State with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Fiori is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 14.1 innings with 14 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .189 against him.
DYNAMIC DC
Sophomore infielder DC Arendas went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the 8-0 win over Tennessee. Arendas has driven in 14 runs and scored 15 runs this year. He is hitting .250 (21-for-84).
A BRIGHT SPOT
Junior outfielder Connor Bright is the Gamecocks’ leading hitter with a .350 average (42-for-120) with 10 doubles, 21 RBI and 23 runs scored. Bright has a .396 on-base percentage and a .433 slugging percentage. He has 12 multi-hit games, tied with Joey Pankake for the team-lead.
WIDENER SHOWS VERSATILITY
Freshman right-hander Taylor Widener pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with not hits allowed and a strikeout in the 4-1 loss at Arkansas.
Widener is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in nine appearances. He has 13 strikeouts to four walks in 16.1 innings pitched. Widener has also seen action in seven games at the plate with three starts as designated hitter.
STARTERS
Three Gamecock players have started all 31 games this year, junior right fielder Connor Bright, junior first baseman Kyle Martin and junior center fielder Tanner English.
IN A PINCH WITH BRISON
Senior Brison Celek is 4-for-7 (.571) in a pinch-hit role this year. Celek had a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted South Carolina to a 5-4 win over Ole Miss. Celek had big pinch-hit singles in a 5-3 win at Clemson with two outs in the ninth inning that kept the inning and game alive as well as a two-out pinch-hit single to keep the Gamecocks alive in a 9-6 win over Tennessee.
REAGAN SUPPLIES RELIEF
Freshman left-hander Josh Reagan was effective in relief in Saturday’s 7-0 loss at Arkansas. He pitched 1.1 scoreless with two hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. He is 3-0 on the year with a 0.51 ERA in eight appearances. Reagan has 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings pitched.
MOONEY IN THE MIDDLE
Sophomore infielder Marcus Mooney recorded a game-winning two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth inning of the 2-1 victory vs. Arkansas. Mooney now has 10 of his 13 RBI with two outs this year. Mooney is hitting .279 (31-for-111) this season with 13 runs scored, six doubles and a triple. He is tied for a team-high as well in walks with 14 on the year.
SOME SUPERLATIVES
The Gamecocks are 24-2 on the year when allowing five runs or less in a game. Additionally, South Carolina is 12-0 when scoring six or more runs. South Carolina is 13-3 in games decided by three runs or less. The Gamecocks are 20-1 on the year when scoring first in a game and 24-2 when out-hitting the opponent.
AT THE PLATE, ON THE MOUND & IN THE FIELD
South Carolina’s pitching staff owns a 1.79 ERA in 281.0 innings pitched. The Gamecocks have allowed 72 runs, 56 earned on 209 hits with 264 strikeouts to 77 walks. Opponents own a .206 batting average. The Gamecocks are hitting .289 (305-for-1056) with a .362 on-base percentage and a .397 slugging mark. South Carolina is fielding .974 for the season.
