Baseball Set To Face North Carolina Tuesday In Charlotte

April 10, 2017

Date: Tuesday April 11, 2017

First Pitch: 7 p.m.

Location: Charlotte, N.C.

Stadium: BB&T Ballpark

Television/Video: SEC Network Plus (Mike Hogewood, Jay Sonnhalter)

Radio: 107.5 The Game & The Gamecock Radio Network (Derek Scott and Tommy Moody)

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the second consecutive year, South Carolina (21-10) and North Carolina (26-6) will meet at BB&T Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Charlotte Knights in a non-conference tilt. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP

Tuesday
South Carolina – Cody Morris (Fr. RHP) 2-0, 1.62 ERA, 16.2 IP, 4 BB, 21 SO
North Carolina – Tyler Baum (Fr. RHP) 4-0, 2.22 ERA, 28.1 IP, 10 BB, 21 SO

RANKINGS

South Carolina is ranked in every major collegiate ranking. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 8 by Perfect Game, No. 11 in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 13 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 14 by D1Baseball and No. 17 by Baseball America. In addition, South Carolina is No. 15 in the RPI rankings released by the NCAA on Monday morning.

North Carolina enters Tuesday night’s game also nationally ranked. The Tar Heels are No. 4 by Baseball America and No. 5 by D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the USA Today coaches poll.

RECAP

South Carolina went 2-2 last week with a non-conference win vs. Furman and a win vs. Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks are 21-10 on the year and 7-5 in SEC play, one game back of first place in the league.

TO ARMS

South Carolina pitchers continue to lead the SEC with a 2.74 ERA with a .217 opponents batting average that ranks second in the league. The Gamecocks have allowed 102 runs, 87 earned, on 226 hits in 285.2 innings with 320 strikeouts to 104 walks. The 320 strikeouts ranks third in the SEC. Carolina’s 2.88 ERA in 12 SEC games also leads the SEC. The Gamecocks tied a Founders Park record this weekend for strikeouts in a three-game series as the Carolina pitchers combined for 39 strikeouts in the three games vs. Vanderbilt.

AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD

South Carolina is hitting .274 (290-for-1058) for the season with a .357 on-base percentage and a .411 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks have 27 homers on the year. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 23 of 31 games this year. South Carolina is fielding .979 for the season with 15 games without an error. South Carolina is 12-3 when not committing an error. Carolina is hitting .254 (105-for-414) in SEC games, that ranks fifth in league contests.

SUPERLATIVES

South Carolina is 17-5 on the year when scoring first in a game and 17-3 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 20-3 when entering the ninth inning with the lead. The Gamecocks are 13-2 when scoring six or more runs and 20-6 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 10-9 in games decided by three runs or less.

Eight of South Carolina’s first 12 SEC games have been decided by three runs or less with the Gamecocks 3-5 in those contests. South Carolina is 9-0 in five-plus run games.

START WITH CLARKE

Despite a no-decision in Friday’s 5-3 loss, junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt gave the Gamecocks a quality start. Schmidt allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings with a walk and 11 strikeouts.

For the season he is 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA in seven starts. Schmidt has allowed just nine runs this year, six earned, on 32 hits in 47.0 innings with 14 walks to 57 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .193 against him. Schmidt ranks second in the SEC in ERA as well as sixth in opposing batting average and sixth in strikeouts. His 1.29 ERA in league games is fourth best as well.

THAT’S TOLBERT

Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert continues to lead the Gamecocks in hitting with a .324 average (34-for-105) in 28 games played with 27 starts. Tolbert tied his career-high three times this past week in RBI as he drove in three runs in the 6-1 win over Furman, hit a three-run homer in the 7-6 loss to Vanderbilt and hit another three-run homer in the 6-1 win over the Commodores.

Tolbert is hitting .410 (16-for-39) in his last 10 games with 13 of his 21 RBI this season coming in that span. Tolbert is also South Carolina’s leading hitter in SEC games batting at a .319 clip (15-for-47) in conference play.

HILL ON THE MOUND

Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the 6-1 win vs. Vanderbilt last Saturday. Hill improved to 2-3 allowing one run in six-plus innings of work with five walks and tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts. Hill owns a 2.23 ERA in seven starts. He has allowed 12 runs, 10 earned, on 28 hits in 40.1 innings with 17 walks to 48 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .199 against him. Hill is eighth in the SEC in opponents batting average and eighth in the SEC in ERA.

CATCHING UP WITH CULLEN

Sophomore catcher Chris Cullen is on an eight-game hitting streak heading into the week. Cullen hit .375 (3-for-8) in a pair of starts vs. the Commodores with three runs scored. He is batting .303 (23-for-76) for the year with 15 RBI and 16 runs scored as well as four homers and five doubles and a .404 on-base percentage.

REAGAN FROM THE LEFT

Senior left-hander Josh Reagan had a pair of scoreless outings vs. the Commodores. Reagan pitched 0.2 scoreless in the 5-3 loss to Vanderbilt and followed that up with three scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts for a save in the 6-1 win vs. the Commodores. Reagan is 3-1 with two saves in 13 relief appearances. He owns a 2.73 ERA. He has allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 22 hits in 26.1 innings with 27 strikeouts and just seven walks.

CORTES IN A GROOVE

Freshman outfielder Carlos Cortes hit .333 (4-for-12) in the Vandy series with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Cortes’ average is up to .276 (16-for-58) with five runs scored and 12 RBI in 14 starts. Cortes is hitting .393 (11-for-28) with three runs scored and 10 of his 12 RBI this season in the last 10 games. Cortes has hit .375 (9-for-24) in SEC play.

THE CROWE SHOW

Junior right-hander Wil Crowe worked into the seventh inning of a 7-6 loss vs. Vanderbilt on Thursday. Crowe allowed seven runs, four earned, on 11 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Crowe is 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts. He has struck out 52 in 48.2 innings pitched with opponents batting .237 against him. Crowe is 11th in the SEC in strikeouts and innings pitched.

DYNAMIC DESTINO

Junior outfielder Alex Destino drove in a pair of runs in the 6-1 win vs. Vanderbilt and also hit a solo homer, his fifth round tripper of the year in Thursday’s 7-6 loss vs. the Commodores. Destino is batting .277 (33-for-119) and leads the team with 25 RBI. He has a team-high eight multi-RBI games as well.

BOWERS BRINGS IT

Senior right-hander Colie Bowers was effective in relief in the 5-3 loss to the Commodores in 13 innings. Bowers allowed just one run on one hit in four innings with two walks and five strikeouts. Bowers is 2-0 with three saves in 13 relief appearances with a 0.83 ERA. He has allowed four runs, two earned, on nine hits in 21.2 innings with seven walks to 25 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .123 against him.

THE MORRIS CODE

Freshman right-hander Cody Morris improved to 2-0 with a win in the 6-1 victory over Furman. Morris allowed just one run on four hits in five innings of work with no walks and three strikeouts. Morris is 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in four starts. He has 21 strikeouts to four walks in 16.2 innings with opponents batting .172 against him.

OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK

Sophomore outfielder Jacob Olson is third on the team in hitting with a .298 average (34-for-114) with 18 RBI and 23 runs scored. Olson leads the Gamecocks in slugging percentage at .500 for the season. He is tied with Hopkins for the team lead in extra base hits with 12 as he has six doubles, a triple and five homers. Olson has reached base in 20 straight games.

TJ LEADS IT OFF

Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins was 2-for-4 with a double a RBI and a run scored in the 6-1 win vs. Vanderbilt. Hopkins is hitting .265 (27-for-102) with a team-high 25 runs scored. He is tied with Jacob Olson for the team-high in extra base hits with 12 as he has six doubles, two ripples and four homers. Hopkins has 14 RBI for the season.

THE VERSATILE LAWSON

Sophomore right-hander Graham Lawson pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in the 7-6 loss to the Commodores. Lawson has 14 strikeouts in 16.2 innings with opponents batting .226 against him. He is 2-0 on the year.

JONAH WITH A JOLT

Junior infielder Jonah Bride is second on the team in hitting with a .306 average (33-for-108) with 15 RBI and 17 runs scored. Bride is second on the team in on-base percentage with a .406 mark with 13 walks to eight strikeouts. Bride and Alex Destino are the only two Gamecocks to have started all 31 games this year.

LATTA LIGHTNING

Freshman right-hander Colby Lee pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief in the 6-1 win vs. Furman and followed that up with 0.2 scoreless in the 5-3 loss to Vanderbilt. Lee is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in six appearances. He has 12 strikeouts in 14.0 innings with opponents batting .180 against him.

STOKES

Junior infielder Madison Stokes hit .333 (4-for-12) in the Vanderbilt series with a RBI and two runs scored. He was 2-for-5 with a run scored in the 5-3 loss to the Commodores.

GREAT SCOTT

Senior right-hander Reed Scott has made 13 relief appearances and is closing in on the top-10 list of all-time appearances by Gamecock pitchers. He is 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA and two saves. He has allowed 11 runs, 10 earned, on 24 hits in 27.2 innings with 11 walks and 25 strikeouts.

ON BASE WITH WILLIAMS

Junior first baseman Matt Williams leads South Carolina in on-base percentage at a .419 mark and owns a team-high 20 walks. Williams has played in all 31 games with 27 starts. He is hitting .278 (27-for-97) for the season.

THERE’S Hunter Taylor

Junior catcher Hunter Taylor is hitting .283 (13-for-46) with seven runs scored and three RBI as well as four doubles and a .382 on-base percentage.

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.

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.

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.

THE MIDDLE INNINGS

South Carolina is outscoring its opponent 85-25 in the middle innings (4-5-6) this year.

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 .329 on-base percentage.

PARKE PROVIDES RELIEF

Junior left-hander John Parke has a win and a save in two his last three relief appearances. Parke has struck out nine in 7.2 innings.

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