Baseball Celebrates Seniors During Weekend Series with Kentucky

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team hosts Kentucky in a big three-game SEC series this weekend at Founders Park. The series begins Friday night (May 10) with a 7 p.m. first pitch. The Gamecocks will honor seniors Chris Cullen, TJ Hopkins and Jacob Olson on Saturday afternoon (May 11) with a 12 p.m. first pitch. The series finale is set for Sunday afternoon (May 12) at 12 p.m. All three games will be televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Ben McDonald on the call. All games will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM and the Gamecock Sports Network with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call. Carolina dropped a 7-4 decision to Furman Wednesday night at Founders Park.

PARKING INFORMATION

> For the third 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.

For GPS purposes, the address for the Key Road Gravel Lot is 1105 Key Road, Columbia, SC 29201.

GAME DAY PARKING INFORMATION (including public game day lots (PGDL: $10/$5 per game))

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 and Sunday
Game Time: 12 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 10:30 a.m.
Business Lots Open: 9 a.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 9 a.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 10 a.m.

NOTE: THE SHUTTLE FROM CLA WILL NOT RUN ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY DUE TO GRADUATION

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION

Friday
South Carolina Cam Tringali (R-Fr. RHP) 2-3, 4.00 ERA, 54.0 IP, 12 BB, 52 SO
Kentucky Mason Hazelwood (So. LHP) 2-3, 3.90 ERA, 32.1 IP, 17 BB, 36 SO

Saturday
South Carolina Reid Morgan (Jr. RHP) 3-5, 3.86 ERA, 74.2 IP, 17 BB, 58 SO
Kentucky Dillon Marsh (Fr. LHP) 3-2, 5.66 ERA, 41.1 IP, 16 BB, 42 SO

Sunday
South Carolina TBA
Kentucky Zack Thompson (Jr. RHP) 5-1, 2.08 ERA, 51.0 IP, 30 BB, 113 SO

SCOUTING KENTUCKY

The Wildcats picked up a 5-2 win over Indiana at home this past Tuesday night as Ryan Johnson walked four times and scored three runs Jimmy Ramsey struck out seven in four innings of work. Coltyn Kessler leads the Wildcats with a .317 batting average while Ryan Shinn has 16 doubles and 13 home runs. On the mound, Zack Thompson is 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched.

THE SERIES

Carolina leads the all-time series 52-41 against the Wildcats and are 30-12 in games in Columbia. Last season, Kentucky won 2-of-3 games against the Gamecocks in Lexington. Cody Morris struck out 10 in six innings, Justin Row had four hits and Hunter Taylor drove in four in a 15-1 win in the Saturday game last season.

GAMECOCKS HONOR SENIORS THIS WEEKEND

Seniors Chris Cullen, TJ Hopkins and Jacob Olson will be honored before Saturday’s game against Kentucky. The trio has combined to play in 518 games in their Carolina career and all three have been key contributors this season. South Carolina also will honor managers Blaire Epting and Gordon Lisle before the game against the Wildcats. The Senior Day ceremony will begin at 11:40 a.m.

ROAD TO HOOVER

The weekend series between Carolina and Kentucky is crucial for both teams’ path to the SEC Tournament. Carolina is one game behind Kentucky and Alabama for 12th in the SEC standings. The Gamecocks lose the tiebreaker to Alabama in a head-to-head scenario, so Carolina will need to win one more game than the Crimson Tide. Alabama hosts Texas A&M this weekend.

UP NEXT

Carolina wraps up the 2019 home schedule Tuesday night (May 14) against USC Upstate. First pitch at Founders Park is set for 7 p.m.