Baseball Opens SEC Play at Georgia

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team visits Foley Field in Athens, Ga., for a three-game series at Georgia to start SEC play this weekend. The series begins on Friday (March 17) at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday afternoon (March 18) at 2 p.m. The series concludes Sunday afternoon (March 19) at 3 p.m.

Friday and Saturday’s games will be on SEC Network Plus. Sunday’s game is on SEC Network with Richard Cross and Lance Cormier on the call. All games also will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call.

The Gamecocks head into SEC play with a 17-1 record, which included a 5-0 win over Presbyterian on Tuesday afternoon. Eli Jones struck out six in four innings of relief while Talmadge LeCroy, Gavin Casas and Cole Messina all homered in the win.

SCOUTING GEORGIA
The Bulldogs are coming off a 10-8 win over Wofford on Tuesday afternoon. Freshman Charlie Condon went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Connor Tate had two hits and two RBI in the win. That duo is hitting .531 and .507, respectively. Condon also has eight home runs and a league best 34 RBI. On the mound Liam Sullivan has allowed just one earned run in 20.1 innings pitched. Jaden Woods has 30 strikeouts in just 17.1 innings pitched.

SERIES VS. GEORGIA
Carolina holds a 68-66 series lead on Georgia heading into the weekend. The Bulldogs took 2-of-3 games last year. Will Sanders won the middle game, striking out nine in 6.1 innings pitched in a 13-7 win. Matthew Becker earned his first career save, striking out five in 2.2 innings pitched. The last time the two teams met in Athens, Carolina won 2-of-3 games. Sanders went a career high eight innings, allowing just four hits and a run in Sunday’s 5-1 win.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina Will Sanders (Jr. RHP) 2-1, 3.86 ERA, 21.0 IP, 5 BB, 26 SO
Georgia Jaden Woods (Jr. LHP) 3-0, 2.60 ERA, 17.1 IP, 11 BB, 30 SO

Saturday
South Carolina Noah Hall (Sr. RHP) 3-0, 2.59 ERA, 24.1 IP, 7 BB, 26 SO
Georgia Liam Sullivan (Jr. LHP) 3-0, 0.44 ERA, 20.1 IP, 6 BB, 27 SO

Sunday
South Carolina Jack Mahoney (Jr. RHP) 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 21.0 IP, 4 BB, 26 SO
Georgia TBA

JONES PICKS UP FOURTH WIN
Sophomore Eli Jones picked up his fourth win of the season on March 14 against Presbyterian, striking out six batters and not allowing a hit or walk in four innings of relief. Jones is tied for the SEC lead in wins and has 18 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched this season.

GAMECOCKS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
The Gamecocks lead the nation with 45 home runs this season. Gavin Casas is tied for third in the nation with 10 home runs … Carolina is seventh in the nation in drawing walks with 117 and second in the country with 51 hit by pitches … The Gamecocks’ .451 on-base percentage is seventh in the country … On the mound, Carolina is fifth in earned-run average at 2.55  .. Braylen Wimmer leads the country with 31 runs scored  … Cole Messina is eighth in the country with 28 RBI … Ethan Petry is fifth in the NCAA with four sacrifice flies.

UP NEXT
Carolina makes the first of its two trips to Truist Field in Charlotte, N.C., facing Charlotte on Tuesday night (March 21) at 6:05 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.