South Carolina begins a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Vanderbilt in what could prove to be a crucial series here at the half-way point of the season.
The #11 Gamecocks (23-6, 7-2) are two games ahead of the #20 Commodores (25-6, 5-4) in the SEC East standings. Florida is a game behind USC and a game ahead of Vanderbilt.
This is a crucial series for Carolina and one they need to win or get a sweep. Vandy has a strong pitching rotation but liking the way USC is finding ways to score. It is refreshing that USC is seeing the re-emergence of the long ball as it may be needed against a good Vandy squad. For Carolina, be careful pitching to Andrew Giobbi, Anthony Gomez and Jason Esposito .
South Carolina leads the all-time series against the Commodores 43-18. Vanderbilt is 20-1 on the year in home games with the Gamecocks 5-4 for the season in road contests.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday
South Carolina – Sr. RHP Blake Cooper: 5-0, 3.11 ERA, 46.1 IP, 16 BB, 44 SO
Vanderbilt – So. RHP Sonny Gray: 4-3, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 21 BB, 46 SO
Saturday
South Carolina – Jr. RHP Sam Dyson: 2-1, 4.79 ERA, 35.2 IP, 6 BB, 39 SO
Vanderbilt – So. RHP Jack Armstrong: 4-0, 3.93 ERA, 36.2 IP, 14 BB, 26 SO
Sunday
South Carolina – TBA
Vanderbilt – Jr. RHP Taylor Hill: 3-2, 3.95 ERA, 41.0 IP, 14 BB, 31 SO
On a side note check this out –
Redshirt freshman southpaw Corey Williams is out for the season after breaking his right knee cap on a line drive by Florida’s Austin Maddox last Saturday (April 3). He remarkably had the presence of mind to grab the ball while face down on the ground and backhand it to first, where Aaron Westlake fielded it and made the tag out.
