May 6, 2014
South Carolina-Wofford Game Notes 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (35-13) is back in action on Wednesday night returning home to face Wofford (25-24) in a non-conference tilt. First pitch at Carolina Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Live video will be available on the All-Access Channel at GamecocksOnline. The game can also 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. 11 by the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll, No. 12 by the NCBWA, No. 14 by Perfect Game, No. 17 by Baseball America and No. 19 by Collegiate Baseball.
LIVE COVERAGE
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network affiliates/Flagship WNKT FM 107.5 “The Game” in Columbia. Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody will call the action.
Internet: Additional coverage on Twitter @GamecockBasebll and Facebook/Gamecocksonline
Live Streaming Video Available on GamecocksOnline All-Access Channel
Internet: Additional coverage on Twitter @GamecockBasebll and Facebook/Gamecocksonline
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Live Stats
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Wednesday
South Carolina – Reed Scott (Fr. RHP) 1-0, 0.94 ERA, 28.2 IP, 6 BB, 19 SO
Wofford – Jordan Accetta (Fr. RHP) 3-2, 9.39 ERA, 23.0 IP, 12 BB, 14 SO
THE WOFFORD SERIES
South Carolina leads the series with Wofford 73-24-1 including a 9-3 win last year at Carolina Stadium.
In last year’s contest, Joey Pankake’s two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh sparked a six-run inning as South Carolina rallied for the 9-3 victory. 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 eighth 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.
A LOOK BACK
South Carolina won one of three games last weekend at Georgia. The Gamecocks are now 35-13 and 13-11 in the SEC with eight games left in the regular season. South Carolina is third in the SEC East and tied for sixth overall in the league with six conference games remaining.
GREINER SHINES
Junior catcher Grayson Greiner was named the 2013-14 USC Co-Male Student-Athlete of the Year alongside Gamecock football/basketball standout Bruce Ellington. Greiner has been recognized in the baseball circles as well as he has been was named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List for the top catcher in college baseball and is on USA Baseball’s Midseason Watch List for the Golden Spikes Award.
Greiner continues to impress with a solid weekend at the plate and behind the dish in the Georgia series. Greiner hit .444 (4-for-9) with a pair of homers, three runs scored and four RBI. He was 2-for-3 with a solo homer in the 3-1 loss and followed that up going 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a two-run homer and three walks in the 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs. Greiner leads the Gamecocks with a .340 average (55-for-162) with a team-high seven homers and 46 RBI as well as a .411 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage. Greiner is hitting even better in the league with a .344 mark (31-for-90) in 24 SEC games with four homers and 22 RBI vs. conference foes.
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 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.
SOME SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 7-4 in one-run games this year as well as 16-11 in games decided by three runs or less. South Carolina is now 33-8 (.805) for the season when allowing five runs or less in a contest as well as 17-1 (.944) when scoring six runs or more. The Gamecocks are 30-4 (.882) when out-hitting the opponent.
SEDDON SEALS IT
Junior right-hander Joel Seddon picked up his SEC-leading 13th save of the year in Saturday’s 5-3 win over Georgia. Seddon also pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Bulldogs. Seddon is 2-1 on the year with a 0.56 ERA in 21 relief appearances. He has 40 strikeouts to seven walks in 32.1 innings with just 15 hits allowed, opponents batting .138 against him. Eight of Seddon’s 13 saves have come in SEC play. He is 13-for-14 in save opportunities this year. With 13 saves, Seddon is tied for seventh on the USC single-season list for saves in a year with Matt Price from 2012. He has been named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List.
USC Single-Season Top 10 Save List
1. Blake Taylor (2002) 21 *led the SEC and the nation in saves
T2. Matt Price (2011) 20 *led the SEC and the nation in saves
T2. Chad Blackwell (2004) 20 *led the SEC and the nation in saves
4. Lee Gronkiewicz (2001) 19 *led the SEC and the nation in saves
5. Tyler Webb (2013) 17 *2nd in the SEC and 7th in the nation in saves
6. Scott Barber (2000) 15 *1st in the SEC and tied for 6th in the nation in saves
T7. Joel Seddon (2014) 13 *currently leads the SEC, Tied for 6th in the nation in saves
T7. Matt Price (2012) 13 *1st in the SEC and 12th in the nation in saves
T9. Brian Beatson (1990) 12
T9. Brian Beatson (1988) 12
LOOKING CLOSER AT GAMECOCK RELIEVERS
2014 – 16-1, 1.04 ERA, 182.0 IP, 118 H, 26 R, 21 ER, 60 BB, 186 SO, Opp BA .184
2013 – 19-10, 3.24 ERA, 225.1 IP, 219 H, 104 R, 81 ER, 69 BB, 221 SO, Opp BA .249
2012 – 21-10, 2.76 ERA, 250.2 IP, 197 H, 83 R, 77 ER, 105 BB, 270 SO, Opp BA .217
2011 – 23-4, 2.42 ERA, 249.1 IP, 201 H, 81 R, 67 ER, 115 BB, 241 SO, Opp BA .223
2010 – 26-5, 3.37 ERA, 264.2 IP, 207 H, 117 R, 99 ER, 105 BB, 289 SO Opp BA .216
SOUTH CAROLINA BULLPEN
South Carolina’s bullpen is 16-1 with a 1.04 ERA in 182.0 innings pitched this year. The bullpen has 186 strikeouts to 60 walks, opponents batting .184 against the relievers. The relief staff has limited opponents to 26 runs, 21 earned, on 118 hits.
The numbers are very similar for SEC games with a 6-1 record along with eight saves and a 0.97 ERA in 83.1 conference innings pitched. The relievers have given up 13 runs, nine earned, on 57 hits with 80 strikeouts to 27 walks. Conference opponents are hitting .197 against the Gamecock relievers.
K-MART
Junior first baseman Kyle Martin tallied a pair of four-hit games two weeks. Martin had four hits in the 6-1 win over USC Upstate and went 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in Sunday’s 9-3 win over Alabama. Martin owns a .335 average (63-for-188) with 31 runs scored, eight doubles, four homers and 26 RBI. Martin averages 1.31 hits per game. He is ninth in the SEC overall in batting average. He owns a .390 on-base percentage and a .441 slugging percentage. Martin is hitting .293 (29-for-99) in league games.
MONTGOMERY GETS IT STARTED
Despite a loss on Friday, junior left-hander Jordan Montgomery delivered a quality start. Montgomery allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits in seven-plus innings with no walks and a pair of strikeouts. Montgomery is 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 73.0 innings with 23 walks to 69 strikeouts.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Sophomore left-hander Jack Wynkoop earned a win in Saturday’s 5-2 win with six innings of work allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Wynkoop improved to 6-3 on the year. He has a 2.21 ERA in a team-high 73.1 innings pitched with just nine walks and 52 strikeouts as well. Opponents are hitting .255 against him.
A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH
Junior outfielder Tanner English hit .500 (5-for-10) in the Alabama series as well with two runs scored and two RBI. English is hitting .288 (47-for-163) for the year with a team-high 12 stolen bases. English’s .310 average in SEC games (26-for-84) is second-best on the team as well.
CLUTCH CONE
Freshman outfielder Gene Cone had two of the biggest hits in the weekend series vs. Alabama. Cone reached base in all four plate appearances in Friday’s 9-3 win with three walks and a key three-run triple. He followed that up with two-out two-run single that would give the Gamecocks a lead they would not relinquish in Sunday’s 9-3 win. Cone had a team-high five RBI and two runs scored vs. the Crimson Tide.
Cone came through for the Gamecocks in both victories at Auburn two weeks ago. He belted a career-high three hits including a game-tying RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to help South Carolina rally for a 3-2 win at Auburn on Saturday. He then followed that up on Sunday going 1-for-3 with game-winning RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of South Carolina’s 4-3 win at Auburn. Cone tied his career-high with three hits in Wednesday’s 6-1 win over USC Upstate.
He is batting .219 (14-for-64) with a .244 average (10-for-41) in SEC games. He has a .325 on-base pct.
DC DELIVERS
Sophomore infielder DC Arendas hit .444 (4-for-9) in the Alabama series with a team-best five runs scored as well as a pair of RBI. He was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI in the 9-3 win on Sunday and scored two runs and drove in another in the 9-3 win on Friday. Arendas is hitting .267 (35-for-131) with a .368 on-base percentage. He is one of four players tied with the team lead for walks with 19 on the year.
MINCEY WITH AN APPEARANCE
Junior right-hander Cody Mincey pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Georgia. Mincey is 4-0 on the year with a 0.61 ERA in 29.2 innings. He has 41 strikeouts to 14 walks in 29.2 innings pitched with opponents batting .176 against him.
A JOLT FROM JORDAN
Freshman infielder Jordan Gore tallied his first career multi-RBI game going 3-for-4 with a RBI and a sacrifice in the 9-3 win on Sunday vs. Alabama. Gore came up with his second game-winning hit of his career with a RBI single in the ninth inning of South Carolina’s 3-2 win over Auburn. Gore also had a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 14th in a 3-2 win over Tennessee.
CARDIAC GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks have won six games this season when trailing entering the seventh inning including four wins when trailing entering the ninth inning.
South Carolina is outscoring opponents 86-22 from the seventh inning through extra innings on the year. From the sixth inning to the end, South Carolina is also outscoring opponents 131-34.
AT THE PLATE, ON THE MOUND AND IN THE FIELD
South Carolina is hitting .280 (459-for-1637) as a team with a .355 on-base percentage and a .377 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks own a 2.09 ERA in 434.0 innings with 371 strikeouts to 127 walks, opponents batting .222 against the squad. South Carolina is fielding .975 on the year.
WIDENER SHOWS VERSATILITY
Freshman Taylor Widener pitched 0.2 perfect innings in Sunday’s 5-3 loss with a pair of strikeouts. He added a single and a run scored as well in his lone plate appearance in Sunday’s game. Widener is 3-0 on the mound with a 0.92 ERA in 16 appearances. He has 27 strikeouts in 29.1 innings; opponents are batting .149 against him.
PANKAKE AT THE PLATE
Junior infielder Joey Pankake is hitting .290 (49-for-169) with a team-high 40 runs scored. Pankake’s on-base percentage is .379 with a .396 slugging mark. He is fourth in the SEC in runs scored. Pankake’s .263 average (25-for-95) in SEC games is fifth best on the team. He has 13 of his 22 RBI this year in SEC games.
CROWE MAKES AN IMPACT
Freshman right-hander Wil Crowe was effective in a no-decision in Sunday’s 9-3 win over Alabama. He allowed three runs in five-plus innings of work. Crowe is 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched.
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 0.94 ERA on the year. He has allowed just three runs on 21 hits in 28.2 innings, opponents hitting .210 against him.
MOONEY IN THE MIDDLE
Sophomore shortstop Marcus Mooney was a spark plug in Sunday’s 9-3 win over Alabama going 3-for-6 with a RBI and a run scored.
He is up to a .280 average (45-for-161) at the plate. He has scored 21 runs and driven in 18 runs as well. Mooney has eight doubles, tied for third highest on the team. Mooney has 11 of his 18 RBI with two outs this year.
STARTERS
Two Gamecock players have started all 48 games this year, junior first baseman Kyle Martin and junior center fielder Tanner English.
HARRINGTON HIGHLIGHT
Junior outfielder Patrick Harrington tallied a key RBI single in the 5-2 win at Georgia and followed that up with his first two-hit game of his career including a RBI double in the 5-3 loss vs. the Bulldogs.
Harrington recorded his first hit and had a RBI in the 8-0 win over Davidson. In his first start vs. Florida, Harrington walked twice and drove in a run as he started in left field for the Gamecocks. He also walked twice and scored a run in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss vs. Charleston Southern.
HOME SWEET HOME
South Carolina has eight sellouts this year and 38 in school history at Carolina Stadium. South Carolina has totaled 241,086 in attendance in 32 home games for an average of 7,533 per contest.
South Carolina is 182-37 in all-time games at Carolina Stadium, a winning percentage of .813. That is the best winning percentage of all 14 SEC schools since opening the facility.
REAGAN SUPPLIES RELIEF
Freshman left-hander Josh Reagan pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to Georgia.
Reagan has been very effective this year with a 3-0 record and a 0.37 ERA in 24.1 innings with 23 hits allowed. He has 20 strikeouts to four walks as well.
