Feb. 22, 2018
Charleston Southern at South Carolina
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team hosts in-state foe Charleston Southern for a three-game series this weekend at Founders Park. Friday’s game will start at 4 p.m. with Saturday’s game scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday’s game, weather permitting, is slated for a 1:30 p.m. start.
All three games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus with Burch Antley and Kip Bouknight on the call. Also, all games will be broadcast on IMG Gamecock Sports Network with Derek Scott, Tommy Moody and Drew Meyer on the call. The Gamecocks come into the Charleston Southern series on a four-game winning streak, including midweek wins over North Florida (5-2) and Winthrop (15-2).
PARKING INFORMATION
> For the second straight season, shuttle parking for the University of South Carolina baseball season will be operational at the Key Road Gravel Lot (1105 Key Road) and in Lot B of the Colonial Life Arena parking lot. Shuttles will begin running two hours prior to game time.
We strongly recommend that fans use the baseball shuttle from Key Road to Founders Park over the CLA shuttle for the convenience, spacious parking (650 spaces) and less congestion than at the arena. Please remember that at the arena, shuttle parking will be limited to 50 spaces because of the student demand for parking in this area. There is a high student demand Monday through Thursday that lasts until 7 p.m. because of classes. Lots A and B are also reserved for men’s and women’s basketball parking on Feb. 17, 18 and 21.
For GPS purposes, the address for the Key Road Gravel Lot is 1105 Key Road, Columbia, SC 29201.
BUSINESS LOTS DURING AFTERNOON GAMES Business lot parking passes will be honored in Lot 1 ONLY for the Feb. 16, 20, 21, 23 and 27 afternoon baseball games based on availability. The businesses at 405 (Lot 9) and 401 (Lot 10) Huger Street request that you begin parking at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Other business lots open at 5 p.m. on weekdays. Parking is allowed in Lot 8 (the Cregger lot) on the Williams St. side for the afternoon early games.
GAME DAY PARKING INFORMATION (including public game day lots (PGDL: $10/$5 per game))
Weekday 4 p.m. Games (Feb. 16, 20, 21, 23, 27)
Game time: 4 p.m.
Stadium opens: 2:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 5/5:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PDGL Open: 1 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.
Weekdays
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 5:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 5/5:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 4 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 5 p.m.
Saturday
Game Time: 4 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 2:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 1 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 1 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.
Sunday
Game Time: 1:30 p.m.
Stadium Opens: Noon
Business Lots Open: 10:30 a.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 10:30 a.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 11:30 a.m.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
> The Buccaneers are coming off a 7-5, 12-inning win over Savannah State on Tuesday afternoon. Charleston Southern used three extra-base hits, including a run-scoring double from Alex Andronica in the 12th to pick up the win. The Buccaneers defeated Delaware, 6-3, on Opening Day but fell to the Blue Hens the next two contests. Jason Miller leads the team with a .438 batting average while Christian Maggio is hitting .400 with a double, a triple and two RBI. On the mound, Nik Constantakos, who will be Friday’s starter, struck out seven in five innings of work to pick up the win last Friday.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina Adam Hill (Jr. RHP) 0-1, 15.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 6 SO
CSU Nik Constantakos (So. RHP) 1-0., 3.60 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 7 SO
Saturday
South Carolina Cody Morris (So. RHP) 1-0, 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 2 BB, 6 SO
CSU Ryan Stoudemire (So. RHP) 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 BB, 6 SO
Sunday
South Carolina Ridge Chapman (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 4 BB, 6 SO
CSU Tyler Weekley (Jr. RHP) 0-1, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 1 BB, 6 SO
LAKE TO FACE OLD MATES
> Assistant coach Stuart Lake will face his old club this weekend as the Gamecocks host Charleston Southern. Lake coached at CSU from 2009-16 and is an alum of the school. The 2012 Big South Coach of the Year guided the Bucs’ first winning season in 18 years in 2014, with the 30 wins setting a school record. Lake, who has the most Big South wins in school history, also coached current Boston Red Sox Tyler Thornburg and mentored 12 Buccaneers who went on to be drafted or sign a free agent deal to play professional baseball. In the classroom, CSU had a team GPA of 3.0 and over in six seasons, as six Bucs made the All-Big South Academic teams.
BULLPEN SHINES IN FIRST FIVE GAMES
> The South Carolina bullpen has a miniscule 0.39 ERA and has allowed just 17 hits and eight walks in 23.1 innings pitched, helped the Gamecocks to an early 4-1 mark. Gage Hinson has pitched five innings of relief, allowing just one hit and a .067 opponent’s batting average. TJ Shook has made three appearances with two strikeouts in four innings while John Gilreath struck out four in four innings of relief in the season opener vs. VMI on Feb. 16.
BOTTOM OF LINEUP BREAKS THROUGH VS. WINTHROP
> LT Tolbert, Justin Row and Hunter Taylor, the 7-8-9 hitters in the lineup, combined to go 7-for-11 with two home runs, 11 RBI and four runs scored in the 15-2 win over Winthrop on Feb. 21. Row was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Tolbert was 3-for-4 with four RBI, a two-run home run and two runs scored while Taylor had a grand slam in the third inning, ending the game with five RBI. All three helped South Carolina to a season-high in runs and hits (12) in the win over the Eagles.
WALK THIS WAY
> South Carolina’s hitters have been patient at the plate in the first five games this season, walking 41 times to up its on-base percentage to .442. Carlos Cortes leads the team with eight free passes, while LT Tolbert and Noah Campbell have six walks apiece. Meanwhile, the South Carolina pitchers have walked just 20 batters in 45 innings pitched.
SC IN THE SEC LEADERS
> The Gamecocks are ninth in the league in hitting (.298) and seventh in pitching (2.20) heading into Friday’s game against Charleston Southern. John Gilreath is among the conference pitchers with a 0.00 ERA and has done it in more innings (8.0 IP) than anyone in the league. TJ Hopkins is tied for fifth in hits (9) and runs scored (7) and is tied for the league lead in stolen bases (5). Carlos Cortes is second in the league in walks (8) while Noah Campbell and LT Tolbert are tied for fourth with six apiece. Tolbert has the fifth-best on-base percentage (.625) while Madison Stokes is tied for sixth in total bases (14). Ridge Chapman is tied for fourth in the league in opponent’s batting average (.067).
