Baseball Closes Regular Season with Series vs. Tennessee

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina baseball team closes out the 2023 regular season with a three-game set against Tennessee at Founders Park. The series starts on Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m. Friday’s (May 19) game also begins at 7 p.m. with Saturday’s (May 20) series finale at 2 p.m.

Thursday and Friday’s games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. Saturday’s game will be televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson on the call.  All games also will be broadcast on the Gamecocks Sports Network from Learfield with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call.

The Gamecocks are coming off an 11-9 loss to Charlotte on Tuesday night. Cole Messina, Talmadge LeCroy and Dylan Brewer all homered in the game while Ethan Petry had a pair of doubles against the 49ers.

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: 2 p.m.
Stadium Opens: 1:00 p.m.
Business Lots Open: 12/12:30 p.m.
Lot 1, STDM, HDG PGDL Open: 12 p.m.
Bus Shuttle for Patrons: 12 p.m.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE
The Volunteers are coming off a 9-5 win over Belmont in eight innings on Tuesday. Maui Ahuna had three hits for Tennessee in the win. Ahuna is hitting .320 with 16 doubles while Zane Denton has a team-best 48 RBI. On the mound, Chase Dollander has 94 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched. He joins Drew Beam with six victories.

SERIES VS. TENNESSEE
Carolina holds a 66-43 series advantage on Tennessee heading into this weekend’s series. The Volunteers swept the Gamecocks in Knoxville last season. Cade Austin pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief, striking out five in Saturday’s game. The last meeting in Columbia was on the final weekend of 2021. Carolina won the middle game behind a Brady Allen home run and a stellar effort on the mound from Brett Kerry.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Thursday
South Carolina Eli Jones (So. RHP) 4-3, 3.40 ERA, 42.1 IP, 12 BB, 52 K
Tennessee Andrew Lindsey (Jr. RHP) 1-2, 2.98 ERA, 48.1 IP, 16 BB, 49 K
Friday
South Carolina TBA
Tennessee Chase Dollander (Jr. RHP) 6-5, 4.35 ERA, 68.1 IP, 25 BB, 94 K
Saturday
South Carolina TBA
Tennessee TBA

SENIOR DAY SATURDAY
Carolina will honor seven seniors before Saturday’s game against Tennessee. The Gamecocks will recognize Noah Hall, James Hicks, Will McGillis, Nick Proctor, Wesley Sweatt, Brett Thomas and Braylen Wimmer before the 2 p.m. start. Carolina also will recognize managers Bryson Mitchell and Noah Wise and bullpen catcher Mickey Paragano.

GAMECOCKS SPIN GEMS AT ARKANSAS
Jack Mahoney pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in a 3-1 win over Arkansas on May 13. Mahoney set a season high in innings pitched in improving to 5-2 on the season. He has 63 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched. Eli Jones had 10 strikeouts in five innings pitched in Friday’s game. Jones has 52 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched. Matthew Becker ended the weekend striking out seven in 5.2 innings on Sunday. The Gamecock pitching allowed just 10 runs in the three games in Fayetteville.

UP NEXT
Carolina will make its annual trip to Hoover, Ala., for the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament. The tournament starts Tuesday, May 23 at the Hoover Met.