The University of South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) and the East Carolina Pirates (2-2) are both ranked nationally – USC as high as 10th and ECU as high as 13th. This weekend’s match-up will bring back memories of the 2009 Regional but also will be a early measuring stick for South Carolina in 2010.
You may recall, East Carolina eliminated the Gamecocks from the 2009 NCAA playoffs with back-to-back wins in a regional played in Greenville, N.C. That has the USC team anxious to face the Pirates again and has added a bit of fuel to this explosive match-up that SC leads all-time 16-7 but ECU has the edge at home in the series 4-2.
These two teams know each other well and know what it will take to win. For the Gamecocks it comes down to good pitching as I feel the hitters can position USC to win. This will be a good test of USC pitching and strategy as ECU has some hitters.
ECU is lead by John Wooten , who has a team leading 3 HRs. But the Gamecocks must be careful when these ECU hitters step into the box: Kyle Roller , Corey Thompson , Zach Wright and Dustin Harrington who has a 12 game hitting streak going.
ECU has plethora of key pitchers headlined by Brad Mincey, Kevin Brandt, Seth Simmons, Seth Maness and Patrick Somers.
South Carolina quality at-bats and will need the following hitters to lead the way: Jeffery Jones , Christian Walker , Kyle Enders , and Whit Merrifield who has his own 17 game hitting streak alive.
As I mentioned the key is pitching in this series. South Carolina to start 2010 is doing well with a 3.00 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. The 39 strikeouts led the SEC after the first weekend of play. This must continue against the Pirates as Tanner sums up what must happen in Clark-LeClair Stadium…
“We will have to play great baseball in Greenville this weekend,” USC Coach Tanner said. “We’ll have to pitch and catch it and we’ll have to get some timely hits. We’re not going to have to be a so-so game and win; we have to be at our best.”
USC’s Blake Cooper (1-0) will take the mound for USC today against the Pirates’ Seth Maness (0-1). Sam Dyson (1-0) will take on Kevin Brandt (1-0) in Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest, while Steven Neff (1-0) will start on Sunday against Brad Mincey (0-1) in a game beginning at 1 p.m.
