Baseball Hosts Texas in Weekend Set

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team hosts No. 1 Texas for a three-game set this weekend at Founders Park. The series begins on Friday night (March 11) at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game begins at 4 p.m. with Sunday’s contest scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start. Friday and Sunday’s game will be on SEC Network Plus with Dave Weinstein and Kip Bouknight on the call. Saturday’s game is televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson on the call. All games also will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott, Tommy Moody and Stuart Lake on the call. The Gamecocks fell to Xavier, 15-7, on Tuesday night. Kevin Madden homered for the second time this season, while Madden, Braylen Wimmer and Brandt Belk each had a pair of RBI.
 
PARKING INFORMATION
Shuttle parking for the University of South Carolina baseball season will be operational at the Key Road Gravel Lot (1105 Key Road). Shuttle begins two (2) hours prior to first pitch and continues until 1 hour after the game.

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). All gameday lots are cashless. Please have a debit card or credit card ready for payment upon entry into parking lots.

Weekdays
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 6:00 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 5/5:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 5 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 5 p.m.

Saturday
Game Time: 4 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 3 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 2 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 2 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 2 p.m.

Sunday
Game Time: 1:30 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 12:30 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 11:30 a.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 11:30 a.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 11:30 a.m.

SCOUTING TEXAS
The Longhorns split a pair of games against Texas State in the midweek, defeating the Bobcats 9-8 on Tuesday in San Marcos before falling, 6-4, in Austin on Wednesday night. Ivan Melendez had four RBI in Tuesday’s win, while Trey Faltine drove in three runs. Murphy Stehly leads Texas with a .431 average while Melendez has four home runs and 20 RBI. On the mound, the Longhorns have a team ERA of 1.79 as Saturday starter Tristan Stevens has not allowed an earned run in 19 innings pitched. Pete Hansen leads Texas with 21 strikeouts to go along with a 0.53 ERA. Texas is 5-0 against SEC teams this season, sweeping Alabama in a three-game series and defeating Tennessee and LSU last week in Houston.

SERIES VS. CLEMSON
Carolina and Texas have met on the diamond six times with the Longhorns winning all six contests. The two teams played a three-game set last season in Austin. Braylen Wimmer had four hits and two RBI in the series while Thomas Farr struck out 10 in six innings of work in Friday’s game. The two teams also played in the championship game of the 2002 College World Series. Three of the six matchups have occurred in Omaha.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina Will Sanders (So. RHP) 2-0, 2.37 ERA, 19.0 IP, 5 BB, 22 SO
Texas Pete Hansen (R-So. LHP) 2-0, 0.53 ERA, 17.0 IP, 3 BB, 21 SO
 
Saturday
South Carolina TBA
Texas Tristan Stevens (R-Sr. RHP) 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 19.0 IP, 2 BB, 14 SO
 
Sunday
South Carolina TBA
Texas TBA
 
BRASWELL IGNITES CAROLINA’S OFFENSE
Michael Braswell went 8-for-13 with a pair of doubles in the three-game Clemson series March 4-6. He has a hit in all 12 games this season and currently leads the team and is fifth in the SEC with a .449 batting average. Braswell also has nine strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched on the mound this season.
 
SEC LEADERS
Michael Braswell is fifth in the SEC with a .449 batting average, while Andrew Eyster is tied for eighth at .408. Braswell is tied for third with 22 hits. Braswell is tied for fifth with 12 walks and is fourth with a .557 on-base percentage. Eyster is tied for fourth with 18 RBI. On the mound, Will Sanders is tied for ninth with 22 strikeouts and is fourth with 19 innings pitched. John Gilreath is tied for the conference lead with seven appearances.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks end their five-game homestand on Tuesday night (March 15) against Gardner-Webb. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game is on SEC Network Plus.