The University of South Carolina Gamecocks are down to their final three SEC series before the SEC conference tournament is set to begin. This weekend USC will travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Wildcats, currently 24-10, 7-14 in the SEC. This will be a match of teams heading in different directions. USC is hoping to solidify a national seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament ; Kentucky is just grasping for a shot at making the SEC Tournament. Last year, USC took 2 out 3 against the Wildcats in Lexington. USC leads the overall series 37-27. Big thing this weekend is SC must not overlook the ‘Cats.
Question of the day: The one thing I cannot understand after doing my research on the series is “Why does USC have to play the Wildcats in Lexington two years in a row?” I thought that in your division you alternated yearly, home and away? If anybody has the answer to this question, please feel free to shine some light on it.
Wildcats vs. Gamecocks by the Numbers: Kentucky and USC have similar hitting numbers for the season, but the biggest difference between the two teams is has been the pitching. Overall as a team USC is batting .305 with 338 Runs, 64 HR’s and a slugging percentage of .506%. Kentucky is entering the weekend batting .298 with 312 runs scored, 65 HR’s and a slugging percentage of .489.
On the mound, USC’s team era is 3.69 in 394.2 innings, giving up 336 hits, 189 runs, 39 HR’s and teams are batting .231 against the gamecock pitching staff. Kentucky’s team ERA is 5.57 in 384.1 innings giving up 442 hits, 274 runs, 40 HR’s and teams are batting .289 against the Wildcat pitching staff.
Weekend probably starters:
Today: USC, Blake Cooper (Sr. RHP) 8-0, 2.92 ERA vs. UK, Taylor Rogers (Fr. RHP) 4-6, 5.63 ERA;
Saturday: USC, Sam Dyson (Jr. RHP) 4-3, 4.58 ERA vs. UK, Jordan Cooper (Fr. RHP) 2-4, 5.70 ERA
Sunday: USC, Jay Brown (Sr. RHP) 2-0, 4.72 ERA vs. UK, Alex Meyer (So. RHP) 4-2, 7.30 ERA
LOHD Prediction for the weekend series: USC will take 2 out of 3 against the Wildcats, with great pitching and timely hitting. USC is trying to stay ahead of the Gators as they come down the home stretch of SEC play. Florida is at Alabama this weekend, so we can only hope that the Tide hits as well as they did last weekend, this weekend against the Gators. Look for JBJ, Merrifield and Brady Thomas to continue their hot hitting in the series against Kentucky.
LOHD also wants to congratulate all the graduating seniors from USC today and tomorrow. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and keep reading this blog….
