The 14th ranked USC Gamecocks baseball (17-4, 3-0) team is set for a three game SEC series at Auburn. USC puts its’ 11 game winning streak on the line tonight while Auburn enters with a 7 game winning streak.
South Carolina leads the all-time series history 32-17 vs. Auburn including two wins in last year’s series in Columbia. The Gamecocks have not lost since their March 7th home game against Clemson.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday
South Carolina Blake Cooper (Sr. RHP) 3-0, 2.90 ERA, 31.0 IP, 11 BB, 32 SO
Auburn Cory Luckie (So. LHP) 1-0, 5.40 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 BB, 19 SO
Saturday
South Carolina Sam Dyson (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 5.40 ERA, 23.1 IP, 6 BB, 27 SO
Auburn Cole Nelson (Jr. LHP) 4-0, 3.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 11 BB, 31 SO
Sunday
South Carolina Tyler Webb (Fr. LHP) 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 21.1 IP, 9 BB, 23 SO
Auburn TBA
Auburn hitting overall –
.352 avg, 207R, 36HR, .572 slugging.
Auburn hitters to watch for –
Hunter Morris (.415, 8HR, 32RBI)
Brian Fletcher (.400, 8HR, 29RBI)
South Carolina pitchers own 3.47 ERA in 191.2 innings. They lead the SEC and are among the nation’s leaders in strikeouts with 224 on the year and just 76 walks allowed. The staff is also allowing opposing hitters to hit just .208 on the year, the lowest average by opponents among the 12 SEC schools.
Auburn Pitching Overall –
4.69 ERA, 1.617 WHIP, .277 average
Luckie: 12.46 ERA, 2.769 WHIP
Nelson: 23.14 ERA, 4.286 WHIP
Dayton/Jacobs: Did not start/9.00 ERA, 1.667 WHIP
South Carolina is hitting –
.303 avg, 162 runs, 20 HR, 32 HBP, 184 LOB
As you can see, this should be a good SEC series and a good measuring stick on where both teams are at this point in the season. I don’t you will see a sweep from either team but I expect a USC series win. Call me silly but I am beginning to believe in the SC pitchers and winning this series in my view the USC hitters finding success at all the right times.
