Baseball Hosts Kentucky in a Three-Game SEC Series

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team plays its final SEC home series of 2022 this weekend, hosting Kentucky in a three-game set starting Friday night (May 13) at 7 p.m. The series continues Saturday afternoon (May 14) at noon and concludes Sunday afternoon (May 15) at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday’s game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. Saturday’s game will be on SEC Network with Roy Phillpot and Lance Cormier on the call. All games also will be broadcast on the Gamecock Sports Network with Derek Scott, Tommy Moody and Stuart Lake on the call. The Gamecocks are coming off a 9-6 loss to USC Upstate on Tuesday night (May 10). Josiah Sightler homered in the game while Brandt Belk drove in three runs. 

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: 6:00p.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: 12 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 11 a.m.
Business Lots Open: 10 a.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 10 a.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 10 a.m.

Saturday
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 KENTUCKY
The Wildcats are coming off taking 2-of-3 games against No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville this past weekend. Alonzo Rubalcaba had the game-winning hit in the 13th inning of Thursday’s win while Zach Lee struck out a pair in 3.1 innings of relief to earn the win in Friday’s game. Chase Estep leads the Wildcats with a .319 batting average and is tied with Jacob Plastiak with 12 home runs. On the mound, Sean Harney is 5-3 with a 2.68 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched.

SERIES VS. KENTUCKY
Carolina holds a 57-42 all-time series lead on Kentucky heading into Friday’s game. The Gamecocks swept the Wildcats in Lexington last season. Andrew Eyster earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors after going 8-for-12 with nine RBI in the three wins. The last series between the two teams in Columbia was in 2019 with Carolina taking 2-of-3 games from the Wildcats.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina Brett Thomas (Jr. RHP) 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 16.0 IP, 11 BB, 15 SO
Kentucky Austin Strickland (So. RHP) 2-2, 7.13 ERA, 17.2 IP, 8 BB, 25 SO
 
Friday
South Carolina Noah Hall (Jr. RHP) 2-4, 4.93 ERA, 65.2 IP, 26 BB, 66 SO
Kentucky Sean Harney (Gr. RHP) 5-3, 2.68 ERA, 50.1 IP, 14 BB, 51 SO
 
Saturday
South Carolina Will Sanders (So. RHP) 7-2, 3.87 ERA, 74.1 IP, 25 BB, 74 SO
Kentucky TBA
 
SENIORS HONORED ON SATURDAY
Carolina’s five seniors (Brandt Belk, Parker Coyne, Andrew Eyster, John Gilreath and Cam Tringali) will be honored before Saturday’s game against Kentucky. Belk has been with the Gamecocks for the 2022 season after transferring from Missouri. Eyster had played four seasons with the Garnet and Black while Coyne, Gilreath and Tringali have been on the roster for five years. The Gamecocks also will honor senior manager Jamie Karl and senior bullpen catcher Dalton Bontempo before Saturday’s game.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION AT TEXAS A&M
Carolina hit .348 with seven home runs and 40 hits in the three games at Texas A&M May 6-8. Braylen Wimmer was 6-for-9 with two home runs and five walks while Josiah Sightler had a pair of long balls and drove in five. Kevin Madden had five hits and three RBI and Colin Burgess had a grand slam in Sunday’s 9-4 win. Carolina is now up to .271 in batting average, up from .258 after the second game against Alabama April 29.

UP NEXT
Carolina wraps up its home schedule on Tuesday, May 18 against Charlotte with first pitch set for 7 p.m.