ShareWelcome to Baum Stadium, is probably not what most Gamecock fans want to hear tonight when they turn on the radio to listen to USC play their 2nd to last SEC series. USC has never had muchsuccessplaying in Fayetteville, or against Arkansas (17-7 SEC, 38-11), and to make things worst. The team that you are tied atop the SEC East with, is playing a home series against the worst team in the SEC.
USC needs to play up to there potential this weekend, or pray that UGA turns it around in Gainesville to earn a upset. I have a feeling Georgia isn’t going to help the Gamecocks much this weekend, so it is going to be up to Ray and theboys to get it done. The Gamecocks do not want to return home Sunday having to sweep the Gators next weekend to win the SEC East. If you thought the Blake Cooper vs.Drew Pomeranz match up was a good one, just wait till tonight. Blake Cooper, 9-0 this season, is going up against Drew Smyly, who is 8-0 and has a 2.26 ERA, which is 2nd best in the SEC.
Here is what you can look forward to in this series:
Players to Watch: The hogs rely on the big three
Zack Cox, Brett Eibner and Andy Wilkins. Zack Coxis hitting an SEC-best .435 and also leads the league in runs scored (59) and hits (87).
Brett Eibner is tied for the SEC lead with 17 home runs. As a team, Arkansas is hitting .322, the second-best figure in the conference.
For the
Gamecocks, freshman Christian Walker has been on a roll of late with a 8 game hit streak and 13 multi-hit games this season. Another player that could be a difference maker in the Arkansas series is Jackie Bradley Jr. aka JBJ, who is hitting .352 (56-for-159) for the season with eight HR and 36 RBI.
Possible Pitching match up this weekend:
Tonight, USC RHP Blake Cooper, Sr., 9-0, 3.05 vs. Arkansas LHP Drew Smyly, Soph., 8-0, 2.26;
Saturday, USC RHP Sam Dyson, Jr., 4-4, 4.30 vs. Arkansas RHP Mike Bolsinger, Sr., 5-2, 4.65;
Sunday, USC TBA vs. Arkansas TBA
Look for either Tyler Webb or Nolan Belcher to get the start on Sunday as Tanner gave both of them audition starts this week against CSU and Wofford. Both pitched well, and should see plenty of action this weekend and next as USCcontinuesto look for a solid third weekend starter.
LOHD Prediction for the Series: It is going to take just about everything Ray Tanner has up hissleeveto pull off a series win this weekend. Nationally, most believe Arkansas is the best team in the SEC, and has a legit chance of making it to Omaha. Zach Cox might be the best player in the SEC, and his supporting cast isn’t to shabby either.
With all that being said, Carolina has the pitching and defense to make this a good series. From whatI have read, the team is confident and feels last weekends series lost to Kentucky was a fluke (I agree). I am predicting that Carolina takes the first two games of the series before losing on Sunday in a close one. Look for Sam Dyson to have a career day on Saturday as he is due for astellarperformance. Just as Cooper and Pomeranz dueled a couple weeks ago in Columbia, I think Cooper has the experience to out pitch Smyly tonight on the mound.
At this point in the season it all comes down to who wants it more. With Carolina, they control their own destiny. Which as a gamecock fan, I feel we have seen back fire on the program to many times. I have faith that the Yardbirds can pull off a weekend series win, and just add more hype to next weekends final series against the Gators. Don’t ya just love this time of year…..Go Cocks!
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