Baseball Begins Series With Vanderbilt On Thursday
April 5, 2017
Dates: Thursday April 6/Friday April 7/Saturday April 8
First Pitch: 7 p.m./7 p.m./Noon
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Founders Park
Television/Video: Thursday ââ’¬” SEC Network; Friday ââ’¬” ESPNU; Saturday ââ’¬” ESPN2 (Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson)
Radio: 107.5 The Game & The Gamecock Radio Network (Derek Scott and Tommy Moody)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (20-8, 6-3 SEC)) returns to SEC action with a three-game series vs. Vanderbilt (19-11, 4-5 SEC). First pitch on Thursday is 7 p.m. with the game televised live on the SEC Network. Friday’s game is also 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. Saturday’s series finale is Noon and will be televised live on ESPN2. All three games can also be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
South Carolina men’s basketball player Sindarius Thornwell will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Thursday’s game. South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday’s game.
Friday is also First Responders Night. Please join us Friday as we welcome local first responders to Founders Park for First Responders Night! To purchase tickets please call 803.777.8850 and mention “First Responders Night.”
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
Thursday
South Carolina – Wil Crowe (Jr. RHP) 3-1, 3.00 ERA, 42.0 IP, 14 BB, 47 SO
Vanderbilt Patrick Raby (So. RHP) 4-3, 2.47 ERA, 43.2 IP, 13 BB, 42 SO
Friday
South Carolina – Clarke Schmidt (Jr. RHP) 4-0, 0.90 ERA, 40.0 IP, 13 BB, 46 SO
Vanderbilt – Kyle Wright (Jr. RHP) 1-4, 5.59 ERA, 37.0 IP, 16 BB, 38 SO
Saturday
South Carolina – Adam Hill (So. RHP) 1-3, 2.36 ERA, 34.1 IP, 12 BB, 37 SO
Vanderbilt – Drake Fellows (Fr. RHP) 3-0, 2.00 ERA, 36.0 IP, 9 BB, 37 SO
RANKINGS
South Carolina is ranked in every major collegiate ranking. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 6 by Perfect Game, No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 11 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball and No. 12 by D1Baseball. In addition, South Carolina is No. 6 in the RPI rankings released by the NCAA on Monday morning. Vanderbilt is ranked No. 21 by Perfect Game and No. 24 by Collegiate Baseball.
RECAP
South Carolina went 2-2 last week with a non-conference win at The Citadel and a win at Auburn. The Gamecocks are 20-8 on the year and 6-3 in SEC play, one game back of first place in the league.
TO ARMS
South Carolina leads the SEC with a 2.72 team ERA with a .216 opponents batting average that is second in the league. The Gamecocks have allowed 89 runs, 77 earned on 201 hits in 254.2 innings this year. The Gamecocks have 281 strikeouts to 91 walks. Carolina’s 2.87 ERA in nine SEC games also leads the SEC.
AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD
South Carolina is hitting .279 (264-for-945) for the season with a .363 on-base percentage and a .418 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks have 24 homers on the year. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 21 of 28 games this year. Carolina is hitting .262 (79-for-301) in SEC games, that ranks fifth in league contests.
South Carolina is fielding .979 for the season with 14 games without an error. South Carolina is 12-2 when not committing an error.
SUPERLATIVES
South Carolina is 16-4 on the year when scoring first in a game and 16-2 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 19-2 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 12-1 when scoring six or more runs and 19-5 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 10-7 in games decided by three runs or less. South Carolina is 8-0 in five-plus run games.
Six of South Carolina’s first nine SEC games have been decided by three runs or less with the Gamecocks 3-3 in those contests.
START WITH CLARKE
Junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt improved to 4-0 on the year with a victory in the 7-0 win at Auburn. Schmidt allowed just five hits in eight scoreless innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts. Schmidt is 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in six starts. He has limited opponents to just seven runs, four earned, on 27 hits in 40.0 innings with 13 walks to 46 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .191 against him.
South Carolina is 6-0 on the year in games started by Schmidt. Schmidt ranks third in the SEC in ERA, sixth in opposing batting average, tied for sixth in wins and tied for 11th in strikeouts.
OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Sophomore outfielder Jacob Olson was South Carolina’s top hitter at Auburn batting .500 (5-for-10) vs. the Tigers. Olson also went 3-for-6 with four RBI in the 15-1 win at The Citadel. Olson is hitting .304 (31-for-102) with a team-high five homers, 18 RBI, 21 runs scored and a .520 slugging percentage.
Olson has nine multi-hit games. He has reached base in 17 straight games. Olson is tied for ninth in the SEC in homers. Olson has also scored nine of his 21 runs in SEC games, tying him for fifth-best among conference players.
THE CROWE SHOW
Junior right-hander Wil Crowe took his first loss of the season in the 5-4 loss at Auburn. Crowe battled despite the loss as he allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits in six innings with a walk and six strikeouts. For the season Crowe is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in seven starts. He has allowed 16 runs, 14 earned, on 34 hits in 42.0 innings with 14 walks and 47 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .213 against him.
Crowe ranks 10th in the SEC in strikeouts, 12th in innings pitched and 15th in opposing batting average
JONAH WITH A JOLT
Junior infielder Jonah Bride tied a career-high in hits as he went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored in the 15-1 win at The Citadel. He had his second triple of the season. Bride last had four hits in a game ironically vs. The Citadel on May 17, 2016. Bride also had three hits in the 6-5 loss at Auburn.
Bride is second on the team in hitting with a .323 average (31-for-96). He has 17 runs scored and 14 RBI. Bride has four doubles, two triples and two homers. He owns a .421 on-base percentage. He has reached base in 16 straight games.
HILL ON THE MOUND
Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill was solid despite a loss in Friday’s 4-2 win to the Crimson Tide. He allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings with a walk and set a season-high with nine strikeouts.
Hill is 1-3 with a 2.15 ERA in five starts. He has allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 23 hits in 29.1 innings with 11 walks and 34 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .217 against him. Hill is 14th in the SEC in ERA. Hill also has 14 strikeouts in two league games, tied for fourth-best in the conference.
CORTES IN A GROOVE
Freshman outfielder Carlos Cortes had his best weekend of his Gamecock career at the plate this weekend vs. Auburn. Cortes hit .455 (5-for-11) with six RBI against the Tigers. Cortes tripled, hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the 7-0 win at Auburn. Cortes’ five RBI tied an individual high by a Carolina player. Cortes also was 3-for-4 with a RBI in the 5-4 loss at Auburn.
Cortes has raised his average to .261 (12-for-46) with five runs scored and 10 RBI in 18 games played with 11 starts.
BOWERS BRINGS IT
Senior right-hander Colie Bowers pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts in the 7-0 win at Auburn. Bowers is 2-0 with three saves in 12 relief appearances. He has allowed three runs, one earned, on eight hits in 17.2 innings with five walks to 20 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .131 against him. Bowers ranks tied for ninth in the SEC in saves and tied for 15th in appearances.
THAT’S TOLBERT
Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert is South Carolina’s leading hitter with a .333 batting average (31-for-93). He has 11 runs scored, five doubles, a triple and 15 RBI. Tolbert is fielding 1.000 at second base with 29 putouts and 55 assists.
Tolbert hit .364 (4-for-11) with a run scored and three RBI vs. Auburn. Tolbert and Olson are tied with the team lead with nine multi-hit games. Tolbert is on a six-game hitting streak. Tolbert tied a career-high in hits in the 15-1 win at The Citadel as he went 3-for-5 with two run scored and a RBI. Tolbert is also hitting a team-best .343 (12-for-35) in SEC games. He has three doubles and six RBI in nine league games.
THE MORRIS CODE
Freshman right-hander Cody Morris made his first SEC start and his second start of the year in the 10-2 win over Tennessee. Morris allowed just one run on three hits in 3.2 innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Morris has won consecutive starts in victories at The Citadel and vs. Furman. He is 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 16.2 innings with four walks and 21 strikeouts.
TJ LEADS IT OFF
Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins hit a two-run homer in the 6-5 loss at Auburn. Hopkins has four homers on the year and is hitting .258 (24-for-93) with a team-high 24 runs scored and 13 RBI.
Hopkins won the Tom Price Award as MVP for the Gamecocks in the Clemson series. His top game of the series was game three 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 a 2-0 win at Clemson.
GREAT SCOTT
Senior right-hander Reed Scott has made 11 relief appearances and is closing in on the top-10 list of all-time appearances by Gamecock pitchers. Scott pitched two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in the 5-4 loss at Auburn. He is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA and two saves. He has allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 22 his in 26.1 innings with 10 walks and 24 strikeouts.
CATCHING UP WITH CULLEN
Sophomore catcher Chris Cullen tied a career-high in hits when he was 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in the 15-1 win at The Citadel. Cullen is batting .294 (20-for-68) with 13 runs scored and 15 RBI. He has four homers and a .400 on-base percentage.
ON BASE WITH WILLIAMS
Junior first baseman Matt Williams saw his streak of reaching base safely end on Sunday at 24 games. He still ranks eighth in the SEC in on-base percentage with a .455 mark on the year. Williams is batting .310 (26-for-84) with 16 runs scored and 11 RBI.
THERE’S Hunter Taylor
Junior catcher Hunter Taylor was 1-for-4 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored in the 6-5 win vs. Alabama. He was also 2-for-3 with a RBI double in the 3-0 win vs. Charleston Southern.
Taylor is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with seven runs scored and three RBI as well as four doubles and a .455 on-base percentage. He has reached base in 11 straight games.
HOGAN HITS
Freshman first baseman Riley Hogan got the start at designated hitter and delivered for the Gamecocks in a 4-2 win vs. Alabama going 2-for-3 with a RBI double and reaching base in three of four plate appearances. Hogan is hitting .238 (5-for-21) with two runs scored and two RBI.
REAGAN FROM THE LEFT
Senior left-hander Josh Reagan earned a win in relief in the 6-5 victory vs. Alabama allowing three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Reagan is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 relief appearances with a save as well. Opponents are hitting .218 against him.
ROW WITH IT
Junior infielder Justin Row hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning as Carolina defeated Alabama 6-5. Row is hitting .292 (7-for-24) with four RBI and four runs scored.
DYNAMIC DESTINO
Junior outfielder Alex Destino went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in a 15-1 win over The Citadel. Destino is batting .286 (30-for-105) with 16 runs scored and a team-high 22 RBI. He has a .356 on-base percentage and a .438 slugging mark. Destino has four homers.
JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson pitched a scoreless inning of relief for his fourth save of the season in the 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. Johnson struck out five of six batters he faced for his third save of the year in the 8-4 win over Appalachian State. 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.
LATTA LIGHTNING
Freshman right-hander Colby Lee earned his first career win in relief in the 10-2 win at Tennessee. He pitched four scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and struck out five. He is 1-0 on the year with a 1.35 ERA in five appearances. Lee has 12 strikeouts in 13.1 innings with opponents batting .170 against him.
p class=”recap-info”>STOKES
Junior infielder Madison Stokes went 2-for-3 with a double and a homer in the 10-2 win over Tennessee. He also doubled and went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI in the 7-1 victory over the Volunteers. Stokes is hitting .191 (18-for-94) with a team-high six doubles as well as three homers, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored.
p class=”recap-info”>BLAIR
Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored in the 4-2 win over Alabama on Sunday. He has four stolen bases on the year and a .333 on-base percentage.
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.
p class=”recap-info”>THE VERSATILE LAWSON
Sophomore right-hander Graham Lawson has made five appearances with two starts on the mound. Lawson most recently pitched in the 15-1 win over The Citadel and pitched one scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts. He is 2-0 on the year with a 4.70 ERA. He has 11 strikeouts in 15.1 innings and opponents are hitting .241 against him.
p class=”recap-info”>PARKE PROVIDES RELIEF
Junior left-hander John Parke has a win and a save in his last two relief appearances. Parke has struck out nine in 7.1 innings.
p class=”recap-info”>STABLE BRIDGES
Freshman right-hander Sawyer Bridges pitched a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout in the 15-1 win over The Citadel. Bridges has 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings in six appearances for the Gamecocks.
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. 25 best third baseman in the nation by D1Baseball (March 22)
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
Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
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. 22 best catcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 22)
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. 15 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 17 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 19 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America (March 23)
Rated No. 23 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
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
Rated No. 83 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
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. 34 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
Rated No. 49 best overall sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game
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
Rated No. 32 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
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
Brandon Murray
Rated No. 209 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft 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
John Parke
Rated No. 303 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 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. 10 best starting pitcher in the nation by D1Baseball (March 23)
Rated No. 15 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Rated No. 22 best overall junior in the nation by Perfect Game
Rated No. 25 best overall prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America (March 23)
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 (Preseason)
Rated No. 188 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft 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
