No. 4 Gamecocks Set To Host No. 25 Wright State
Feb. 24, 2017
Dates: Fri. Feb. 24/Sat. Feb. 25/Sun. Feb. 26
First Pitch: 7 p.m./4 p.m./1:30 p.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Founders Park
Television/Video: SEC Network Plus (Burch Antley & Trey Dyson) Live SEC Network Plus Video
Radio: 107.5 The Game & The Gamecock Radio Network (Derek Scott, Tommy Moody and Drew Meyer); GamecocksOnline.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (3-2) hosts Wright State (2-1) in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. Game two on Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m. with Sunday’s series finale at 1:30 p.m. All three games will be available on SEC Network Plus and the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
RANKINGS
South Carolina is ranked among the top six teams in all six major collegiate rankings. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball and in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 5 in the nation by Baseball America and Perfect Game and No. 6 by the NCBWA.
Wright State has been ranked for the first time in school history and comes into this weekend’s contest at No. 25 by Baseball America.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina – Clarke Schmidt (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO
Wright State – Ryan Weiss (Fr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO
Saturday
South Carolina – Wil Crowe (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 7 SO
Wright State – Zane Collins (So. LHP) 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 5.0 IP, 3 BB, 4 SO
Sunday
South Carolina – Adam Hill (So. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 BB, 0 SO
Wright State – Danny Sexton (Jr. LHP) 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 SO
RECAP
Alex Destino homered for a second straight game and Madison Stokes tied a career high with three hits, but a four-run first inning helped lift Kansas State to 6-5 win over fourth ranked South Carolina at Founders Park on Thursday afternoon.
TO ARMS
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 last weekend was the best among all 14 SEC schools as was the pitching staff’s .115 opponents batting average.
South Carolina enters the Wright State series with a team ERA of 2.00. Carolina has allowed 13 runs, 10 earned, on 27 hits in 45.0 innings with 13 walks to 42 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .171 against the Gamecocks. Carolina’s ERA ranks second in the SEC with opposing batting average third.
AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD
South Carolina is hitting .282 (46-for-163) as a team with a .357 on base percentage. Carolina has committed just five errors and fielded .975 for the season with an error-less game in the season opener.
SCHMIDT DELIVERS IN OPENER
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.
WELCOME BACK WIL
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.
HILL ON THE MOUND
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.
BLAIR FINDS SUCCESS AT THE PLATE
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 in the UNCG series. 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.
DYNAMIC DESTINO
Junior outfielder/designated hitter Alex Destino hit a game-winning two-run homer in the fifth inning of a 5-4 win over Charlotte on Tuesday. He also hit a two-run homer in Thursday’s 6-5 loss to Kansas State
Destino had a pair of multi-hit games for the Gamecocks in the UNCG series and 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 is hitting .300 (6-for-20) on the year with a team-high eight RBI. The RBI mark is tied for the league lead in the SEC heading into the Wright State series.
OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Sophomore utility player Jacob Olson hit his first career homer in the 5-4 victory over Charlotte. He also went 4-for-9 (.444) at the plate in the UNCG series, 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.
GREAT SCOTT
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. He followed that up with 5.1 innings of relief in the 6-5 loss to Kansas State. Scott battled and limited the Wildcats to one run on three hits in a quality outing out of the bullpen.
BROWERS BRINGS IT
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. He followed that up with two scoreless innings of relief to earn a win in Tuesday’s 5-4 victory over Charlotte.
REAGAN FROM THE LEFT
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. He followed that up with 1.1 scoreless in Tuesday’s win vs. Charlotte.
TJ LEADS IT OFF
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.
STOKES STAYING BUSY
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 in the UNCG series. Stokes tied a career-high in hits in Wednesday’s loss to Kansas State going 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
WELCOME TO GAMECOCK NATION
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.
LOOK AT THE CROWD
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.
That is the fifth-highest series total in Founders Park history and the highest series total since the 2014 season.
THAT’S TOLBERT
Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk in the 6-5 loss to Kansas State. Tolbert is hitting .300 (3-for-10) with a RBI and a run scored.
ROW WITH IT
Junior infielder Justin Row has played in three games with two starts and is hitting .375 (3-for-8) with a double, run scored and two RBI.
WILLIAMS OFF TO A GOOD START
Junior infielder Matt Williams has played in five games with a pair of starts. He has hit .500 (4-for-8) with a pair of walks and owns a .600 on-base percentage.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
Wright State enters with a 2-1 record after a series victory last week at Clemson.
Freshman infielder Seth Gray was Wright State’s top hitter last weekend at Clemson hitting .500 (5-for-10) with a homer, two doubles, three runs scored and five RBI. Sophomore outfielder JD Orr also had a solid weekend at the plate hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a double, triple and four RBI.
Wright State’s Friday night starter Ryan Weiss closed out last Friday’s win over Clemson with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Sophomore left-hander Zane Collins went five innings last week and is scheduled to get the ball in Saturday’s game. Junior left-hander Danny Sexton was Horizon League Pitcher of the Week after making his debut in a 9-2 win over Clemson in the rubber game of the series. Sexton allowed just one run on four hits in 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Sexton is scheduled to start Sunday for the Raiders.
SOUTH CAROLINA 2017 HONOR ROLL
Danny Blair
Rated No. 105 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 126 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Jonah Bride
Rated No. 50 best third baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
Carlos Cortes
Rated No. 1 freshman in the SEC by Baseball America
Rated No. 1 impact freshman in the SEC by D1Baseball
Rated No. 4 best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 13 best freshman in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 37 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 53 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Chris Cullen
Rated No. 7 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 11 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 18 best catcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 22 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 85 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
Wil Crowe
Named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 3rd Team (Baseball America)
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 7 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 9 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 11 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 17 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 36 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by MLB.com
Alex Destino
Preseason All-America 2nd Team (NCBWA)
Preseason All-SEC Team (Perfect Game)
Preseason All-SEC 2nd Team (SEC Coaches Poll)
Rated No. 16 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 19 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 21 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 45 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Adam Hill
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 6 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 11 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 15 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 49 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 57 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
TJ Hopkins
Rated No. 31 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 36 best outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 91 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Tyler Johnson
Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 1st Team (D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
Preseason All-SEC First Team (SEC Coaches Poll)
Preseason All-SEC Team (Perfect Game)
Rated No. 1 reliever in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 12 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 13 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 14 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 30 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Brandon McIlwain
Rated No. 13 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 47 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
Cody Morris
Rated No. 16 impact freshman in the SEC by D1Baseball
Rated No. 23 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 32 best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 62 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 159 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Jacob Olson
Rated No. 34 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 101 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Josh Reagan
Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 3rd Team (Collegiate Baseball)
Rated No. 12 best reliever in the nation by D1Baseball
Clarke Schmidt
Named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America 1st Team (NCBWA)
Preseason All-America 2nd Team (Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, Perfect Game)
Rated No. 8 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America
Rated No. 9 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 10 best prospect in the SEC for 2017 MLB Draft by Perfect Game
Rated No. 11 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 22 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 35 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by MLB.com
Recognized as having the “Best Control” of all pitchers in the SEC by Baseball America
Madison Stokes
Rated No. 21 best shortstop in the nation by D1Baseball
LT Tolbert
Rated No. 25 best second baseman in the nation by D1Baseball
Rated No. 35 best prospect in the SEC for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 103 best prospect in the nation for 2018 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
