Baseball Hosts Winthrop Tuesday Afternoon

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team concludes its season opening four-game homestand this Tuesday (Feb. 23) when the Gamecocks welcome Winthrop to Founders Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. The game also will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call. Carolina opened the 2021 season with a series sweep of Dayton, scoring 12 runs in the first two games and breaking a 1-all tie with four runs in the eighth in a 5-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
 
PARKING INFORMATION
For the 2021 season, there will not be shuttles from either the Key Road Gravel Lot or the Colonial Life Arena parking lot. There will be passes at lot 1 available for $10 apiece.
 
Parking Lot Openings
4 p.m. Games – Gates open at 3 p.m., all lots open at 2:30 p.m.
1 p.m. Games – Gates open at noon, all lots open at 11:30 a.m.
Noon Games – Gates open at 11 a.m., all lots open at 10:30 a.m. 

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Tuesday
South Carolina Will Sanders (Fr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 BB, 0 SO
Winthrop Macklin Ohs (Jr. RHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 BB, 0 SO
 
SCOUTING WINTHROP
The Eagles took 1-of-3 games against Appalachian State to start the 2021 season. Winthrop won, 10-9, with a walk-off single from Jonathan Strauss on Sunday. Joe McNamara had three hits for Winthrop in the win. Strauss led the team with three RBI. On the mound, Dalton Skinner allowed just one hit and struck out four in 4.2 innings of relief.
 
SERIES VS. WINTHROP
Carolina leads Winthrop, 19-7, in the all-time series and are 15-4 in Columbia. Last year’s game was rained out but in 2019, the Gamecocks came away with an 8-6 win on Feb. 19 as Luke Berryhill drove in three runs while TJ Hopkins reached base four times. Parker Coyne struck out six batters in three innings of relief.
  
CLARKE HAS A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
Wes Clarke had a weekend to remember to open the 2021 season against Dayton. The junior was 7-for-10 with seven runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. Clarke had 18 total bases and walked five times for a .800 on-base percentage to go along with his 1.800 slugging percentage. On Friday, he hit a three-run home run in the first inning, giving the Gamecocks the lead for good. He was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of walks, a double and four RBI. Then on Saturday, Clarke was 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI. Clarke was named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball.
 
EYSTER OPENS 2021 IN GRAND STYLE
Andrew Eyster had a grand slam in the third inning of Carolina’s 12-1 win over Dayton on Opening Day. That grand slam gave the Gamecocks a 7-0 advantage. Eyster had a career high with the four RBI while tying his career high in hits (3) and runs scored (3). The grand slam was the first by a Gamecock since Wes Clarke last February vs. Northwestern.

BOSNIC BREAKS A RECORD IN FIRST CAREER START
Julian Bosnic set a Carolina record with eight consecutive strikeouts in the Sunday win over Dayton (Feb. 21). Bosnic hit the first batter but then struck out eight consecutive Flyers before a walk on a 3-2 count. He broke the record of seven, set by Adam Hill vs. Charleston Southern in 2018 and Alex Farotto vs. Mississippi State in 2007.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks have their annual three-game series with Clemson this weekend. The series starts Friday, Feb. 26 at Clemson with a 4 p.m. first pitch. Saturday’s game will be at Fluor Field in Greenville, also with a 4 p.m. start. Sunday’s game is at Founders Park and will start at 1:30 p.m.