Baseball Hosts Georgia In Final Regular Season Series
May 17, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (31-21, 12-15 SEC) closes out the regular season with a three-game SEC series vs. Georgia (23-30, 9-18 SEC) at Founders Park. The series opens on Thursday with first pitch at 7 p.m. Friday is “Senior Day” with first pitch also at 7 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday’s games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus with Saturday’s game televised on the SEC Network. All three games can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
Friday’s “Senior Day” activities will honor the senior class that features left-hander Josh Reagan, right-hander Reed Scott, first baseman Ross Grosvenor and right-hander Colie Bowers. Recent graduates right-hander Wil Crowe and John Parke will also be honored. In addition, the Gamecocks will recognize senior managers Matt Clark and Anthony Steenvoorden as well as senior bullpen catcher John Hawkins.
RANKINGS
For the second consecutive week, South Carolina is ranked No. 30 in the nation the Collegiate Baseball Top 30. The Gamecocks are also No. 30 in this week’s NCAA RPI released on Monday.
RECAP
South Carolina is 31-21 and 12-15 in the SEC. The Gamecocks have played 25 of 52 games this year vs. RPI Top 50 teams with 10 Top 50 RPI wins. The 10 RPI Top 50 wins ties for eighth-most among SEC schools. The Gamecocks are fourth in the SEC Eastern Division and 10th in the league with three SEC games remaining.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
Thursday
South Carolina – Wil Crowe (Jr. RHP) 5-4, 3.50 ERA, 79.2 IP, 27 BB, 72 SO
Georgia – Andrew Gist (Sr. LHP) 2-4, 4.13 ERA, 65.1 IP, 18 BB, 74 SO
Friday
South Carolina – Adam Hill (So. RHP) 3-5, 3.11 ERA, 66.2 IP, 33 BB, 75 SO
Georgia -Kevin Smith (So. LHP) 4-5, 5.17 ERA, 54.0 IP, 26 BB, 62 SO
Saturday
South Carolina — TBA
Georgia – TBA
TIGHT GAMES
South Carolina is 23-9 on the year when scoring first in a game and 24-6 when entering the seventh inning with a lead and 30-3 when entering the ninth inning with the lead.
The Gamecocks are 17-3 when scoring six or more runs and 27-11 when allowing five runs or less. South Carolina is 17-17 in games decided by three runs or less. South Carolina is 10-3 in five-plus run games.
TO ARMS
The South Carolina pitching staff ranks seventh in the SEC in earned run average. The Gamecocks own a 3.68 team ERA with 221 runs allowed, 192 earned, on 406 hits in 469.0 innings pitched. The Gamecocks have struck out 488 batters to 193 walks. Opponents are batting .234 against the Gamecocks. South Carolina ranks second in the SEC in strikeouts and fifth in opposing batting average.
South Carolina’s 3.85 ERA in SEC games is third in the conference as well. The Gamecocks have 225 strikeouts in 243.0 innings during conference play.
AT THE PLATE AND ON THE FIELD
South Carolina is hitting .264 (463-for-1751) for the season with a .347 on-base percentage and a .405 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks have 50 homers on the year including 11 in the last seven games. South Carolina has equaled or out-hit its opponent in 35 of 52 games this year.
South Carolina is fielding .977 for the season with 23 games without an error. South Carolina is 16-7 when not committing an error. South Carolina ranks fifth in the SEC in fielding.
CORTES IN A GROOVE
Freshman outfielder Carlos Cortes tied a career-high in hits going 3-for-4 with a homer and a pair of RBIs in the 6-3 win vs. USC Upstate. Cortes is batting .275 (39-for-142) for the season with 19 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, nine homers and 32 RBIs.
Seven of his nine homers have come in SEC play this year. Cortes is second on the team in hitting in conference play with a .302 average (26-for-86) in SEC contests with seven homers and 22 RBIs. In SEC play, he is tied for ninth in RBIs and tied for ninth in home runs.
THE CROWE SHOW
Junior right-hander Wil Crowe earned the win in Friday’s 4-3 victory at Missouri. Crowe allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings of work with two walks and nine strikeouts. His nine strikeouts vs. the Tigers tied a season-high.
Crowe is 5-4 on the year with a 3.50 ERA in 13 starts. He has allowed 40 runs, 31 earned, on 77 hits in 79.2 innings with 27 walks to 72 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .249 against him.
THAT’S TOLBERT
Sophomore infielder LT Tolbert is South Carolina’s leading hitter with a .315 average (56-for-178) with 24 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, three homers and 31 RBIs. Tolbert has 18 multi-hit games on the year and is second on the team with nine multi-RBI games.
Tolbert is also South Carolina’s top hitter in conference play with a .303 average (30-for-99) in league play with 12 runs scored and 18 RBIs in league contests. Tolbert hit .333 (4-for-12) with a pair of runs scored in the Missouri series.
Tolbert is hitting .351 (13-for-37) in the last 10 games with six runs scored and three RBIs.
HILL ON THE MOUND
Sophomore right-hander Adam Hill allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work with two walks and seven strikeouts in Saturday’s 5-3 loss at Missouri. For the season, Hill is 3-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts. He has struck out 75 batters to 33 walks in 66.2 innings pitched with opponents batting .204 against him.
Hill ranks ninth in the SEC in opposing batting average, tied for 13th in strikeouts and 14th in earned run average.
REAGAN FROM THE LEFT
Senior left-hander Josh Reagan made a pair of appearances in the Missouri series and leads the team with 24 appearances on the year. He is 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA and a pair of saves. Reagan has allowed 18 runs, 15 earned, on 40 hits in 48.0 innings with 18 walks to 43 strikeouts and opponents batting .233 against him. Reagan is now ninth in all-time appearances at Carolina with 82 in his career with the Garnet & Black.
GREAT SCOTT
Senior right-hander Reed Scott is now tied for seventh on the all-time list for career appearances at South Carolina. Scott has 86 appearances, tied with Jamie Poston (1997-2000). Scott allowed just two runs on four hits in five innings of work with a pair of walks and four strikeouts in the Sunday start for the Gamecocks. Scott is 1-2 with a 3.78 EAR in 21 appearances with three saves. He has 41 strikeouts in 47.2 innings pitched.
Top 10 Career Appearances in South Carolina History
110 Tyler Webb 2010-12
102 Matt Price 2009-12
94 Michael Roth 2009-12
88 Rob Mosser 1990-93
87 Aaron Rawl 2002-05
87 Jason Pomar 1996-99
86 Reed Scott 2014-17
86 Jamie Poston 1997-00
82 Josh Reagan 2014-17 81 Kip Bouknight 1998-01
JOHNSON BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior right-hander Tyler Johnson earned his ninth save of the year going 1.1 scoreless with a pair of strikeouts to earn a save in 4-3 win at Missouri. For the season, Johnson is 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA and nine saves in 19.2 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts. He now has 18 career saves, tied for ninth most in school history.
Top 10 Career Saves in South Carolina History
43 Matt Price 2009-12
30 Rob Mosser 1990-93
28 Brian Beatson 1987-90
22 Blake Taylor 2001-02
22 Lee Gronkiewicz 1999-01
20 Tyler Webb 2010-13
20 Chad Blackwell 2004
19 Jason Pomar 1996-99
18 Scott Barber 1998-00
18 Tyler Johnson 2015-Present
MASH UNIT
South Carolina has had a tough slew of injuries in the recent weeks. South Carolina junior right-hander Clarke Schmidt is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery after the Florida series to repair torn ulnar collateral ligament to his right elbow. Freshman right-hander Sawyer Bridges has a torn rotator cuff and will miss the rest of the season. On May 16 it was announced that sophomore catcher Chris Cullen will miss the remainder of the year after undergoing surgery on his left knee to remove torn cartilage. In addition, junior infielder Madison Stokes is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight weeks after breaking his right wrist on a hit by a pitch on May 13 at Missouri.
OLSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Sophomore outfielder Jacob Olson is on a seven-game hitting streak and is second on the team in hitting with a .310 average (62-for-200) with 34 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, six homers and 26 RBIs. Olson was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to Missouri and also homered in Saturday’s 5- loss at Missouri. He leads the team in multi-hit games as well with 19 on the year.
DYNAMIC DESTINO
Junior outfielder/designated hitter Alex Destino set a school record with five walks and also scored a pair of runs in 10-7 win vs. Liberty. He tied a season-high in hits going 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Presbyterian. He was South Carolina’s top hitter in the LSU series hitting .500 (3-for-6) with a pair of runs scored, a three-run homer in Sunday’s 7-6 loss and four RBIs. Destino also had a two-run homer in the 9-5 win vs. Wofford.
He is batting .260 (45-for-173) for the season with nine homers and a team-high 34 RBIs. Destino owns a team-high 11 multi-RBI games as well.
BOWERS BRINGS IT
Senior right-hander Colie Bowers is 4-1 on the year with four saves and a 1.87 ERA in 19 relief appearances. He has 40 strikeouts in 33.2 innings with opponents batting .142 against him.
Bowers pitched three scoreless innings of relief with just one hit allowed, no walks and four strikeouts for a save in the 6-3 win vs. USC Upstate. Recently he also earned the win in the 10-7 victory vs. Liberty allowing just one run on one hit in three innings and tied his career-high with six strikeouts.
JONAH WITH A JOLT
Junior infielder Jonah Bride hit .333 (4-for-12) in the Missouri series with a homer and four RBIs. Bride hit a game-winning two-run homer for the Gamecocks in the sixth inning of the 4-3 win over Missouri. He was 2-for-4 with two runs in the victory. For the season, Bride is hitting .286 (52-for-182) with 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, three homers and 26 RBIs. He is third on the team in hitting and is the only Gamecock to have started all 52 games this season.
TJ LEADS IT OFF
Sophomore outfielder TJ Hopkins is fourth on the team in hitting with a .265 average (44-for-155) with 34 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, four homers and 15 RBIs.
HOGAN HITS
Freshman first baseman Riley Hogan hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high four runs in the 10-7 win over Liberty and had a pair of doubles in the 5-3 win at Missouri on Friday night. Hogan is batting .250 (14-for-56) with five doubles, two homers and eight RBIs on the year.
THERE’S Hunter Taylor
Junior catcher Hunter Taylor had a key two-run double in the 4-3 win at Missouri. Taylor has played in 30 games with 21 starts and is hitting .229 (19-for-83) with eight runs scored and six doubles.
ROSS IS THE BOSS
Senior first baseman Ross Grosvenor made his first two career starts in the Kentucky series and came through at the plate going 3-for-8 (.375) with his first career homer as well as three RBIs. Grosvenor drove in a run in all three games with a RBI double on Friday, a RBI single in the 5-1 win and the homer in Sunday’s game. Grosvenor then followed that up with a solo homer in a 9-5 win vs. Wofford.
LATTA LIGHTNING
Freshman right-hander Colby Lee is 1-0 with a 3.94 ERA in nine appearances. He has 14 strikeouts in 16.0 innings with opponents batting .217 against him.
STOKES
Junior infielder Madison Stokes is batting .224 (37-for-165) for the season with 18 runs scored, 10 doubles, three homers and 17 RBIs on the year.
ON BASE WITH WILLIAMS
Junior first baseman Matt Williams leads South Carolina in on-base percentage with a .391 mark and owns 25 walks and has also been hit by six pitches.
ROW WITH IT
Junior infielder Justin Row had a career day in the 6-3 win over USC Upstate going 3-for-4 with his first career homer in the Gamecock victory.
THE MORRIS CODE
Freshman right-hander Cody Morris is 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA in nine starts. He has 45 strikeouts to seven walks in 35.2 innings with opponents batting .241 against him. Morris tied a career-high with eight strikeouts and allowed just two runs on one hit in four innings in the 9-5 win over Wofford. He followed that up going a season-high six innings allowing three runs on eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in the 6-3 win over USC Upstate.
PARKE PROVIDES RELIEF
Junior left-hander John Parke earned the win in relief in the 4-3 victory vs. Presbyterian. Parke worked a career-high 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on two hits wiht no walks and four strikeouts. He is 2-1 with a save and a 5.75 ERA in 11 appearances. He has struck out 15 batters in 18.2 innings.
BLAIR
Sophomore outfielder Danny Blair hit his first career homer and drove in a career-high three runs in the 10-7 win vs. Liberty. Blair has played in 41 games with 20 starts this season.
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. 16 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
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. 26 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
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
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 & Midseason 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. 12 best college prospect in the nation for 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball (Midseason/April 12)
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
