March 7, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week. Schmidt struck out a career-high nine batters in eight scoreless innings of work in Friday’s 8-1 win over Clemson. Schmidt’s outing was the longest of his career.

Schmidt is 3-0 on the year with a 0.43 ERA after three starts. Schmidt has struck out 23 batters to just five walks. He has allowed one run on nine hits in 21.0 innings of work. Opponents are batting .143 against him. Schmidt earned the Tom Price Award as MVP of the Gamecocks for the Clemson series. Schmidt’s ERA ranks second-best in the SEC. He is also fifth-best in opposing batting average and tied for sixth-highest in the league in strikeouts. Schmidt is one of nine pitchers in the SEC with three wins on the year.

South Carolina is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll as well as No. 17 by D1Baseball and No. 21 by Collegiate Baseball.