Baseball Notebook

Feb. 20, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina won its opening weekend series with a pair of victories vs. UNCG. The Gamecocks defeated the Spartans 7-1 and 5-1 with a 1-0 loss on Sunday. The Gamecocks are 2-1 on the year and will host five games this upcoming week at Founders Park beginning on Tuesday afternoon with Charlotte at 4 p.m.

Record: 2-1
SEC: 0-0
Home: 2-1
Away: 0-0

Last Week: 2-1
2/17/17 ââ’¬” UNCG (W, 7-1)
2/18/17 ââ’¬” UNCG (W, 5-1)
2/19/17 ââ’¬” UNCG (L, 1-0)

NOTES:
South Carolina’s pitching staff was strong the entire weekend vs. UNCG as the Gamecock pitchers combined to allow just three runs, one earned, on 10 hits with 27 strikeouts in 27 innings of work. UNCG, who led the NCAA in hitting in 2016, hit just .115 with a .149 slugging percentage and a .179 on-base percentage. The three runs allowed over the weekend is the lowest total of an opening weekend since the Gamecocks allowed just two in the opening series of 2004 vs. Charleston Southern. Carolina’s 0.33 ERA over the weekend was the best among all 14 SEC schools as was the pitching staff’s .115 opponents batting average.

South Carolina hit .274 (26-for-95) for the weekend with a .330 on base percentage. Carolina committed just two errors and fielded .983 for the weekend with an error-less game in the season opener. The .983 fielding percentage was third best among SEC schools over the weekend.

Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt won on Opening Day allowing just one run on three hits in 6.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

Junior right-hander Wil Crowe struck out seven in five scoreless innings of work in his first appearance since April 10, 2015 in the Gamecocks’ 5-1 win over UNCG. Crowe allowed just three hits and one walk to earn the victory. Crowe’s seven strikeouts is tied for the sixth highest total in the SEC.

Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill tied a career-high longest outing going seven innings in Sunday’s 1-0 loss vs. UNCG. Hill last went seven innings in his final start of the 2016 season when he went seven innings in a 23-2 win over Rhode Island in the NCAA Regional. Hill allowed just one run, unearned, on one hit with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts. The loss was his first loss of his Gamecock career after going 7-0 as a freshman last season. Hill was one of three SEC pitchers to go seven innings over the weekend. Hill’s seven strikeouts is tied for the sixth highest total in the SEC.

Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair had his best series at the plate in a Gamecock uniform in his career as he went 6-for-11 (.545) to lead the Gamecocks at the plate over the weekend. Blair also scored a pair of runs, drove in two and stole two bags. He finished with a .545 on-base and slugging percentage as well. Blair was the only Gamecock to hit safely in all three games and reach base in all three contests over the weekend. Blair was 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored on Opening Day and 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run in the 5-1 victory. Blair currently ranks tied for eighth in the SEC in hitting.

Junior outfielder/designated hitter Alex Destino had a pair of multi-hit games for the Gamecocks. He also drove in two runs in both Friday and Saturday’s victories against UNCG. He was 2-for-4 with a double in the season opener and 2-for-4 in Saturday’s 5-1 win. Destino hit .333 (4-for-12) for the weekend.

Sophomore utility player Jacob Olson went 4-for-9 (.444) at the plate in his first career series in a Gamecock uniform. The junior college transfer doubled, scored two runs and stole a base over the weekend vs. UNCG.

Senior right-hander Reed Scott picked up his first save of the year going four innings in Saturday’s 5-1 win. Scott allowed one run, unearned, on two hits in four innings with three strikeouts. His four innings was his longest outing since he went four innings at Georgia on April 16, 2016.

Senior right-hander Colie Bowers struck out four and allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings of relief in Friday’s 7-1 win over UNCG.

Senior left-hander Josh Reagan struck out three and walked just one in two scoreless innings of relief in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to UNCG.

Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the 7-1 season opening victory over UNCG. Hopkins also drove in a pair of runs in the victory.

Junior infielder Madison Stokes was busy at shortstop in three starts with his 13 assists the most by a player in the SEC over the weekend.

Four Gamecocks made their debut in the weekend series vs. UNCG. Olson, junior infielder Justin Row, freshman infielder/outfielder Carlos Cortes and freshman first baseman Riley Hogan all made appearances.

South Carolina had pair of sellouts over the weekend and totaled 24,501 in attendance the first weekend for an average of 8,167 per contest at Founders Park.

NEXT WEEK
2/21/17 ââ’¬” Charlotte ââ’¬” 4 p.m.
2/23/17 ââ’¬” Kansas State ââ’¬” 4 p.m.
2/24/17 ââ’¬” Wright State ââ’¬” 4 p.m.
2/25/17 ââ’¬” Wright State ââ’¬” 3 p.m.
2/26/17 ââ’¬” Wright State ââ’¬” 1:30 p.m.