Baseball Hosts Missouri in Top-25 Conference Matchup

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team hosts Missouri at Founders Park this weekend (March 24-26) in its first home SEC contests of the year. The series starts on Friday at 7 p.m. with game two Saturday at 4 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at noon.

Friday and Sunday’s games will be televised on SEC Network with Dani Wexelman and Gregg Olson on the call. Saturday’s game is streamed on SEC Network Plus. All games also will be broadcast on The Game 107.5 FM with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call.

The Gamecocks had their 11-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night in Charlotte, falling to the 49ers, 6-2. Cole Messina had two hits and the Carolina bullpen struck out a combined nine batters.

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: 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 MISSOURI
The Tigers defeated Kansas, 8-3, at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night. Hank Zeisler drove in five runs while on the mound, Logan Lunceford struck out nine in six innings of work. Missouri is led at the plate by Trevor Austin’s .364 batting average. Zeisler has 29 RBI to go along with nine home runs. First Team Preseason All-SEC pick Luke Mann is hitting .329 with five home runs and 15 RBI. Friday starter Chandler Murphy is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

SERIES VS. MISSOURI
Carolina leads the all-time series with Missouri 17-13 going into the weekend. The Tigers won 2-of-3 games in Columbia, Mo., last season. Carolina took the opening game, 4-1, behind Noah Hall’s seven-inning performance, allowing just three hits and a run with four strikeouts.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina Will Sanders (Jr. RHP) 2-1, 4.18 ERA, 28.0 IP, 6 BB, 32 SO
Missouri Chandler Murphy (Sr. RHP) 3-1, 3.04 ERA, 26.2 IP, 9 BB, 26 SO
Saturday
South Carolina Noah Hall (Sr. RHP) 4-0, 2.59 ERA, 31.1 IP, 7 BB, 31 SO
Missouri Ian Lohse (Jr. LHP) 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 12.0 IP, 10 BB, 12 SO
Sunday
South Carolina Jack Mahoney (Jr. RHP) 3-0, 2.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 5 BB, 32 SO
Georgia TBA

GAMECOCKS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
The Gamecocks lead the nation with 56 home runs this season. Gavin Casas is tied for third in the nation with 12 home runs … USC is fourth in the nation with 226 runs scored … Carolina is fifth in the nation in drawing walks with 142 and sixth in the country with 54 hit by pitches … The Gamecocks’ .446 on-base percentage is sixth in the country … On the mound, Carolina is seventh in earned-run average at 2.70  .. Braylen Wimmer is third in the country with 32 runs scored … Ethan Petry is ninth in the NCAA with four sacrifice flies … The .909 winning percentage is best in the nation.

PETRY NAMED SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
University of South Carolina outfielder Ethan Petry has been named the Southeastern Conference Baseball Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced March 20. Petry had a stellar week at the plate, hitting .562 (9-for-16) with four runs scored, seven RBI, four extra-base hits, which included three home runs. The freshman opened the week going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in a 5-0 win over Presbyterian. He homered in the game one win over Georgia on Saturday, then drove in five with a pair of home runs, part of a 4-for-4 afternoon in Carolina’s 12-2, 7-inning win. Petry closed the weekend with an RBI single as the Gamecocks swept Georgia in Athens for the first time since 2010.

UP NEXT
Carolina visits Charleston, S.C., for a midweek matchup with The Citadel on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Joe Riley Park. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.