Baseball Hosts Michigan State In Weekend Series
March 9, 2017
Dates: Fri. Mar. 10/Sat. Mar. 11/Sun. Mar. 12
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 (Tommy Moody and Brad Muller)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (9-5) is back in action this weekend hosting Michigan State (9-2) in a three-game series beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Founders Park. Game two of the series is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday with Sunday’s series finale at 1:30 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
PROBABLE WEEKEND ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina – Clarke Schmidt (Jr. RHP) 2-0, 0.48 ERA, 18.2 IP, 10 BB, 19 SO
Michigan State – Alex Troop (So. LHP) 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 IP, 1 BB, 11 SO
Saturday
South Carolina – Wil Crowe (Jr. RHP) 2-0, 2.60 ERA, 17.1 IP, 4 BB, 22 SO
Michigan State – Ethan Landon (Jr. RHP) 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 10.2 IP, 5 BB, 8 SO
Sunday
South Carolina – Adam Hill (So. RHP) 0-2, 1.56 ERA, 17.1 IP, 7 BB, 20 SO
Michigan State – Andrew Gonzalez (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 5.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO
RANKINGS
South Carolina is ranked in all six major collegiate rankings. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 7 by Perfect Game, No. 8 by D1Baseball, No. 10 by Baseball America, No. 13 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball.
RECAP
The Gamecocks won a pair of midweek contests with a 12-5 win over The Citadel on Tuesday night and a come-from-behind 8-6 win on Wednesday vs. Winthrop.
Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins homered twice and sophomore catcher Chris Cullen added a homer and a career-high five RBI as Carolina belted out a season-high 15 hits on the way to the 12-5 win over The Citadel. Sophomore right-hander Graham Lawson earned his first victory of the season. He allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3.0 innings of relief work. Junior left-hander John Parke picked up his first save of the year after allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in three innings of relief. Eight of nine Gamecock starters recorded at least one hit in Tuesday’s matchup, with Chris Cullen and TJ Hopkins leading South Carolina at the plate. Cullen went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI, while Hopkins went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. Matt Williams and Jonah Bride also had multi-hit games with two hits apiece.
Chris Cullen and Alex Destino each homered and Carolina rallied with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Winthrop 8-6 on Wednesday night at Founders Park.
With Carolina trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Gamecocks fought back as Alex Destino led off the frame with a solo home run to right field, his third homer of the year. Jonah Bride followed with a double and Chris Cullen was hit by a pitch to give the Gamecocks runners on first and second with no outs. Carolina then tied it at 6-6 as Madison Stokes executed a successful sacrifice bunt. On the play, Winthrop reliever Riley Arnone threw wide of first base and Bride scampered home with Cullen advancing to third and Stokes moving to second base. Carlos Cortes would give Carolina a 7-6 lead with a sac fly to left field scoring Cullen. A passed ball and a wild pitch would bring home Stokes giving the Gamecocks a two-run cushion.
Senior right-hander Reed Scott earned his first victory of the season and is now 1-1 overall. He gave up just one run on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in five innings of relief.
TO ARMS
The South Carolina pitching staff continues to impress as it limited Clemson to a just a .221 batting average in this past weekend’s series allowing 13 runs on 23 hits in 29.0 innings of work.
For the season, the Gamecocks own a team ERA of 3.23 with 151 strikeouts in 128.0 innings. The Gamecocks have allowed 54 runs, 46 earned, on 98 hits with 151 strikeouts to 58 walks. Opponents are hitting .209 against Carolina for the season. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in strikeouts and are third in opposing batting average.
South Carolina’s pitching staff was strong the entire opening 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 was the lowest total of an opening weekend since the Gamecocks allowed just two in the opening series of 2004 vs. Charleston Southern.
AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD
The Gamecocks have raised the team batting average to .284 (135-for-476) with a .360 on-base percentage and a .433 slugging mark. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 13 of 14 games this year. South Carolina has put together four straight games with 10 or more hits. The Gamecocks are fielding .979 for the season and have played six error-less contests.
SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 8-2 on the year when scoring first in a game and 7-2 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 9-1 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 5-1 when scoring six or more runs and 8-3 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 4-4 in games decided by three runs or less.
START WITH CLARKE
Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt improved to 2-0 on the year with a win in Friday night’s victory at Clemson. Schmidt did not allow a run in 5.2 innings of work and struck out five. Schmidt owns a 0.48 ERA for the season having allowed just four runs, one earned, on 11 hits in 18.2 innings with 19 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .164 against him. Schmidt ranks sixth in earned run average and tied for ninth in innings pitched in the SEC.
WILLIAMS IS A HIT
Junior first baseman Matt Williams currently owns a career-high 12-game hitting streak. For the season he is batting .410 (16-for-39) with a pair of doubles, five runs scored and seven RBI. He has a .500 on-base percentage. Williams has put together four straight multi-hit games with two hits apiece twice vs. Clemson and most recently vs. The Citadel and Winthrop. Williams is ninth in the SEC in hitting and 10th in on-base percentage.
Williams was South Carolina’s top hitter in the Clemson series and hit .417 (5-for-12) for the weekend with a RBI and two runs scored.
WELCOME BACK WIL
Despite a no-decision, junior right-hander Wil Crowe put together a quality start in Saturday’s game vs. Clemson at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. Crowe allowed four runs on four hits in six-plus innings of work with two walks and six strikeouts.
For the season, he is 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts. He has allowed five runs on 11 hits in 17.1 innings with four walks to 22 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .175 against him. Crowe ranks tied for eighth in the SEC in strikeouts.
TJ LEADS IT OFF
Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins homered twice and drove in four runs in the 12-5 win over The Citadel. Hopkins won the Tom Price Award as MVP for the Gamecocks in the Clemson series. His top game of the series was Sunday when he went 3-for-5 with his second triple of the season and a pair of runs scored. He also had a key diving catch to record the final out in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson.
Hopkins is hitting .306 (15-for-50) for the year with a team-high 17 runs scored and a .397 on-base percentage. He is tied for fifth in the SEC in runs scored.
HILL ON THE MOUND
Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill gave the Gamecocks a quality start in Sunday’s contest vs. Clemson. Hill allowed just one run, a solo homer, on five hits in 5.1 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Hill owns a 1.56 ERA in three starts having allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits in 17.1 innings with seven walks and 20 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting a miniscule .153 against him. Hill is 12th in the SEC in opposing batting average and 15th in earned run average.
OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Sophomore utility player Jacob Olson tallied the Gamecocks’ first multi-homer game of the season in the 8-4 win over Appalachian State. Olson went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, a RBI and a run scored in the 8-7 loss to Clemson.
Olson is fourth in hitting for the Gamecocks batting .300 (15-for-50) on the year including three homers, a triple and three doubles to go along with eight RBI and nine runs scored. He has a team-best .580 slugging percentage. Olson owns a team-high five multi-hit games.
JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson pitched a scoreless inning of relief for his fourth save of the season in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson. Johnson has four saves in five relief appearances. He has struck out 12 in 6.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. He leads the SEC in saves.
Johnson struck out five of six batters he faced for his third save of the year in the 8-4 win over Appalachian State last Tuesday. He earned two saves the previous week with 1.1 innings of work in the 5-4 win over Charlotte followed by a scoreless ninth inning in which he struck out the side in the 4-3 victory over Wright State on Friday night.
CATCHING UP WITH CULLEN
Sophomore catcher Chris Cullen has homered in two straight games and has three homers on the year. He homered and drove in two in the 8-6 win over Winthrop and homered and was 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBI in the 12-5 win over The Citadel.
Cullen is hitting .273 (9-for-33) with six runs scored and 11 RBI. He owns a .415 on-base percentage in 12 games with 10 starts.
BOWERS BRINGS IT
Senior right-hander Colie Bowers has not allowed an earned run in six relief appearances for the Gamecocks. Bowers has limited opponents to one unearned run on three hits in 9.1 innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .100 against him.
Bowers threw a scoreless inning of relief in Saturday’s contest vs. Clemson and allowed an unearned run on one hit in Sunday’s game.
DYNAMIC DESTINO
Junior designated hitter/outfielder Alex Destino is hitting .294 (15-for-51) with a three homers and a team-high 12 RBI on the year. Destino has three doubles and a .529 slugging percentage.
REAGAN FROM THE LEFT
Senior left-hander Josh Reagan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with just one hit allowed and three strikeouts in Friday’s 2-0 win at Clemson. Reagan is 1-0 on the year with a 1.54 ERA in a team-high seven relief appearances. He has allowed just two runs on five hits in 11.2 innings with four walks and 14 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .128 against him.
THERE’S Hunter Taylor
Junior catcher Hunter Taylor is tied for the team lead with three doubles. He had a double in Saturday’s game vs. Clemson and three of his four hits of the season have been doubles. Taylor is batting .333 (4-for-12) with a pair of runs scored in six games and three starts.
THAT’S TOLBERT
Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert has four multi-hit games, tied for second-highest on the team, and is hitting .308 (12-for-39) with three RBI and five runs scored. Tolbert has a .357 on-base percentage and has fielded 1.000 at second base and shortstop.
STOKES IS RISING
Junior infielder Madison Stokes went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the 8-6 win over Winthrop. Stokes is hitting .220 (11-for-50) with a team-high four doubles and six runs scored.
Stokes reached base in seven of 14 plate appearances vs. Wright State and hit .364 (4-for-11) in the series. Stokes hit a solo homer in Friday’s 4-3 win, doubled twice in the series and scored three runs. Stokes tied a career-high in hits in last Thursday’s loss to Kansas State going 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
JONAH WITH A JOLT
Junior infielder Jonah Bride has three multi-hit games in the last four games for the Gamecocks. Bride had two hits and three RBI in the 8-7 loss to Clemson and a pair of hits in both Tuesday and Wednesday’s wins vs. Winthrop and The Citadel. He was 4-for-8 in the midweek games with four runs.
GREAT SCOTT
Senior right-hander Reed Scott struck out a career-high eight batters in five innings of relief and earned the win in the 8-6 victory over Winthrop. Scott is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA in six relief appearances. Opponents are hitting .246 against him. He has 17 strikeouts in 18 innings.
BLAIR ON BASE
Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair is hitting .267 (12-for-45) with three RBI and four runs scored. He has a .327 on-base percentage and tied for the team lead with three steals.
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.
ROW WITH IT
Junior infielder Justin Row went 2-for-4 with his first career triple in Saturday’s 8-7 loss to Clemson. Row is hitting .278 (5-for-18) with three RBI and three runs scored in eight games played with four starts.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State enters the weekend 9-2 and with the No. 2 RPI in the country according to Tuesday’s NCAA rankings. The Spartans are 6-1 in road contests and 3-1 in neutral site games.
Sophomore infielder Marty Bechina leads Michigan State in hitting with a .395 (17-for-43) average with 11 runs scored, three doubles, four homers and nine RBI. Junior infielder Zack McGuire is right behind him at a .391 clip (18-for-46) with seven doubles, a pair of homers and 13 RBI. Senior infielder Dan Durkin is Michigan State’s leading run producer with a team-high 15 RBI to go along with a .362 average (17-for-47).
Sophomore left-hander Alex Troop leads the Spartans on the mound. The Friday night starter is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts. He has 11 strikeouts to one walk. Sophomore right-hander Riley McCauley has four saves in four relief appearances. He has struck out six in five innings of work.
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
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
