Gamecocks Set To Host Senior Weekend
April 26, 2018
No. 13 South Carolina vs. No. 23 Mississippi State
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 13 South Carolina softball returns to action for a three-game set against No. 23 Mississippi State starting Friday at 6:00 PM ET on SEC Network Plus.
Where to park
Fans are encouraged to park in the Heyward Street Parking Garage for all home games this season.
The upcoming weekend
The Gamecocks (No. 13/14) return home for four-straight games, starting with a three-game set against Mississippi State on Friday at 6:00 PM ET on SEC Network Plus. Saturday’s game at noon will be on SEC Network while the series finale on Sunday at 1:00 PM will be on SEC Network Plus.
Carolina comes into the weekend with an impressive 38-11 record, including an 11-7 mark in SEC play. Carolina earned win No.38 on the year on Sunday as the Gamecocks hit a season-high four home runs in a 7-1 win at USC Upstate.
Carolina is set to be on TV for the 32nd-35th time this season with the Mississippi State series.
South Carolina’s opponents for the week came in with a combined 64-31 record. This is the highest combined win mark for two opponents in a week for the Gamecocks this season. Mississippi State will be the third ranked opponent Carolina has welcomed to Columbia this season. The Gamecocks took both previous home series over ranked teams this season.
Missouri weekend… It’s a sweep!
Carolina got back to its winning ways this past weekend with a three-game sweep of SEC foe Missouri. The sweep was the Gamecocks’ first over the Tigers in program history.
For her efforts in the Missouri series and midweek game, Jana Johns was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.
Kennedy Clark led the way at the plate batting .667 with six hits with a .667 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage.
Carolina had three difference pitchers (Cayla Drotar, Kelsey Oh and Dixie Raley) earn victories on the weekend. The Carolina staff staff had nine strikeouts against one of the best offensive teams in the country.
What a year… Some big points
Carolina has achieved some major highpoints just 49 games into the 2018 season. The first came early in the year, when the Gamecocks posted a 17-game winning streak, marking the longest streak of its kind since 1997.
With 38 victories on the season, Carolina has matched the 30-win mark for the sixth-straight year. Carolina has won 30 or more games 24 times since 1987. The 38 wins is tied for the most in the Beverly Smith era.
Home sweet home
Home is where the heart is, and it’s also where plenty of success has been found for the Gamecocks with an 21-2 record thus far.
Carolina is batting .298 in home games, outscoring opponents 125-49 (+79) in 23 games. The Gamecocks pitching staff has produced with a 1.96 ERA with 109 strikeouts and just 47 walks.
Carolina history lesson… Let’s talk about the SEC
Since moving away from the divisional format in 2014, Carolina’s best finish has been 8th in 2014. The Gamecocks finished that season 11-13 in conference play and 36-22 overall. (Gamecocks currently sit in 3rd).
Carolina has taken three conference series over ranked opponents this season, marking the first time ever in the SEC era the Gamecocks have done so.
Record watch
With 20 RBI this season, Krystan White now has 100 over her four-year career. With triple digits, White is just the 16th Gamecock ever to have 100 or more. The school record is 199 (Dana Fulmer 1992-95) while she can get into the top 10 with 13 more.
Alyssa VanDerveer is at 19 home runs during her Carolina career (two years), which is tied for seventh. The school record is 33, but if you add her numbers from Penn State she sits at 43.
