South Carolina hosted Ole Miss over the weekend and won 2 out of three by scores of 5-0, 9-5 and 4-5.
Breaking it Down…On Friday night South Carolina starting pitcher Blake Cooper threw a masterful complete game shut out to improve to 7-0 on the season.Cooper faced off against vaunted Rebel pitcher Drew Pomeranz.Pomeranz appeared to be as good as advertised shutting out the Gamecocks until he had to leave the game after the 7th inning because of a high pitch count.USC’s batters had been held in check until the pitching change, and given the chance they took advantage.The Gamecocks scored 5 runs in the 8th inning on only two hits.One of those hits, a 3 RBI double by Adrian Morales, broke the game open.After that Cooper went back to work to finish his masterpiece.In Cooper’s complete game he struck out 10, walked 1 and scattered 4 hits.
On Saturday South Carolina again faced an Ole Miss starting pitcher with staggering numbers.Unlike Friday night the Gamecock bats got to the starting Rebel pitcher, Aaron Barrett, tagging him for 8 runs, all earned, including 7 in the second.After that start, Sam Dyson, Matt Price and Ethan Carter managed the Ole Miss attack.Though Sam Dyson gave up 5 runs, none of them were earned and Ole Miss never seemed to be able to get a big hit when they needed it to get back in the game.The South Carolina hitting attack was paced by Christian Walker’s grand slam in the second.Walker, who has been in and out of the line-up, appeared ready to resume a meaningful role with his 2 hits and 4 RBIs.
On Sunday South Carolina came out looking for the sweep but had to settle for the series win when they came up short 5-4.The trouble started early for the Gamecocks when pitching coached Mark Calvi was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.Starter Jay Brown gave up 4 runs to Ole Miss in the fifth caused in no small part by walking the first two batters.John Taylor came in to finish the inning without allowing further damage.South Carolina responded by scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.Ole Miss would score the game winning run in the seventh with a solo home run.Despite putting the lead-off hitter on base in both the 7th and 8th innings USC was unable to tie the game.
What to take from the weekend…South Carolina has now won every conference series this season and 8 in a row dating back to last year.They have taken an unsteady and somewhat uninspiring start and turned it into a successful and promising series.Fans should be thinking about hosting a regional and hoping for more.If the pitching can continue its torrid pace, more could indeed be a possibility.
Stars of the series…Blake Cooper and his complete game shutout, see above…Adam Matthews went 4-10 with a RBI and a HR…Adrian Morales went 4-10 with 2 doubles, 3 runs and 5 RBIs…Christian Walker went 3-6 a HR and 4 RBI…Brady Thomas went 3-77 with a double and home run.
This and that…Nick Ebert drew 5 walks over the weekend…Scott Wingo is now the team leader in home runs with 8…South Carolina improved to 28-8 and 11-4 in conference…USC leads the SEC East by one game over Florida and 3 games over Vanderbilt
Up next…The Gamecocks host USC Upstate on Tuesday night before traveling to Georgia for the weekend…Georgia was swept by Arkansas over the weekend and has been a disappointing 3-12 in conference play thus far.
