Baseball Wraps Up April with Home Series vs. Alabama

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team returns to Founders Park to host Alabama in a three-game SEC series that starts Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. Friday’s game is also a 7 p.m. first pitch with Saturday’s game scheduled for a noon start. Thursday and Saturday’s games will be on SEC Network with Mike Morgan and David Dellucci on the call. Friday’s game will be on SEC Network Plus with Dave Weinstein and Drew Meyer on the call. All games also will be broadcast on the Gamecock Sports Network with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call. The Gamecocks were swept at Auburn this past weekend. Braylen Wimmer had a three-run home run in Saturday’s game while Cade Austin pitched three scoreless innings in relief on Sunday.
 
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.

SCOUTING ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide won 9-3 on Tuesday night over Samford in Birmingham. Owen Diodati had four hits and three runs scored in the win while Ben Hess scattered three hits in six innings on the mound. Tommy Seidl leads Alabama with a .307 batting average while Zane Denton has a team-best 11 home runs and 36 RBI. Thursday night’s starting pitcher Garrett McMillan has 61 strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched.

SERIES VS. ALABAMA
Carolina has a 37-30 all-time series lead on Alabama. The two teams played in the SEC Tournament last year with the Crimson Tide coming away with a 9-3 win in Hoover. Braylen Wimmer and Wes Clarke both homered in the loss. The last time Alabama has played in Columbia was in 2017. Carolina won 2-of-3 games, including a 6-5, 10-inning walk off win on Saturday as Justin Row had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Thursday
South Carolina Brett Thomas (Jr. RHP) 0-0, 8.31 ERA, 8.2 IP, 7 BB, 12 SO
Alabama  Garrett McMillan (Jr. RHP) 4-3, 3.32 ERA, 59.2 IP, 17 BB, 61 SO
 
Friday
South Carolina Noah Hall (Jr. RHP) 2-4, 5.17 ERA, 54.0 IP, 20 BB, 53 SO
Alabama Jacob McNairy (Sr. RHP) 4-2, 5.52 ERA, 44.0 IP, 9 BB, 40 SO
 
Saturday
South Carolina Will Sanders (So. RHP) 5-2, 3.52 ERA, 61.1 IP, 20 BB, 63 SO
Alabama  Grayson Hitt (So. LHP) 4-1, 3.57 ERA, 45.1 IP, 20 BB, 48 SO
 
BELK GETS ON BASE
Brandt Belk has a 26-game reached base streak heading into the Alabama series. His 24-game hitting streak was snapped in Saturday’s game at Auburn, but he reached on a walk in that contest. In his last 26 games, Belk is hitting .408 with 24 runs scored, eight doubles, five home runs, nine stolen bases and 22 RBI. The last Gamecock to have this long of a reached base streak was Jonah Bride in 2018. He had a 30-game streak from Feb. 21-April 12, 2018.

GILREATH COLLECTS INNINGS IN LAST TWO OUTINGS
John Gilreath has pitched five innings in each of his last two outings for the Gamecocks. In games against Ole Miss and Auburn, Gilreath has 10 innings pitched with four hits allowed, three runs and 10 strikeouts. The five innings pitched ties a career high for the Rock Hill native while opponents are hitting .121 against him in those 10 frames.

UP NEXT
Carolina hosts North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. The game is on SEC Network.