The field of 64 for the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament was announced today, as were the details on where each team will play its Regional. South Carolina was chosen as a Regional host, which means the Gamecocks don’t have to travel, but their Regional is certainly not going to be a cakewalk because [insert big sigh] Clemson is coming to town (as the No. 2 seed)!

Yes, despite the fact that the Tigers came to the capital city for Regional play last year, the NCAA decided that they should do that again, so here we are. I understand the rivalry story line and all, but it would have been nice to see somebody else this year. It is what it is, though, and at least Clemson won’t be the first team USC faces in the Regional.

That team would be St. Louis, who will make the trek to Cola as the No. 4 seed in the Regional. They’ll face off against the Cocks on Friday at 7 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN3. The final team coming to town is No. 3 seed Liberty.

The entire Columbia Regional schedule is as follows:

Friday, May 31
Game 1 – No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Liberty – 1 p.m. (ESPN3)
Game 2 – No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Saint Louis – 7 p.m. ESPN3)

Saturday, June 1
Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 – 2 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 8 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)

Sunday, June 2
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 – 1 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 7 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)

Monday, June 3
Game 7 – If Necessary – 7 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)

The final series of the regular season didn’t go quite as South Carolina might have hoped, but the Gamecocks did just enough, winning one of the three games, to lock up the No. 4 seed at this week’s SEC Tournament, which gives them a first-round bye. A successful showing in the tourney could impact whether or not USC is chosen as a regional host site (though they likely will be), which may serve as extra motivation for the guys. Plus, it would be nice to get back into the win column before the national tournament starts.

South Carolina 4, Mississippi State 5

The Cocks took an early lead in Thursday night’s game, putting up two runs in the first inning. Graham Saiko led off with a walk, Chase Vergason singled, and Joey Pankake tripled to get both guys in.

The Bulldogs cut that lead in half in the third inning. Nick Ammirati started things off with a base hit, Alex Detz coaxed a one-out walk, and Brett Pirtle singled with two outs to make the score 2-1.

Carolina padded their lead in the fifth inning, scoring their final two runs. Brison Celek knocked a one-out double, then Tanner English came through with a double of his own with two outs. Saiko followed that with a RBI base hit that put the visitors on top 4-1.

MSU responded and took the lead in the eighth, though. Wes Rea led off with a home run, C.T. Bradford singled, Demarcus Henderson laid down a bunt for a base hit, Ammirati brought Bradford across the plate with a single, and Adam Frazier came through with a RBI base hit of his own to tie the game. Then it was heartbreak time, as a wild pitch, intentional walk, and an unintentional free pass brought in another run to make it 5-4 in favor of the home team. Rea ended the inning with a groundout and the Bulldogs left the bases loaded, or things could have been even worse.

Yardcocks starter Nolan Belcher worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits, one run, walked three batters, and struck out four. After a brief appearance by Adam Westmoreland, Tyler Webb, making his school record-breaking 103rd appearance, pitched the final inning and gave up four hits, three runs, and issued two walks. He took the loss and drops to 2-2. After the game, Webb said he would give up 100 appearances in exchange for the save, which was heartbreaking.

Mississippi State starter Luis Pollorena went 4 2/3 innings and surrendered five hits, four runs, and walked one batter. Chad Girodo threw one inning, issued a walk, tallied two K’s, and earned the win, improving to 6-1 on the season. Jonathan Holder threw the final inning, struck out a batter, and earned the save, his 15th of the season.

Celek had two hits to lead South Carolina at the plate, while Bradford, Henderson, and Ammirati all had three to lead the Bulldogs.

» Continue reading “Yardcocks Drop Series In Starkville, But Clinch No. 4 Seed In Hoover”

Tyler Webb and Evan Beal celebrate after the game (and Webb’s record-tying 102nd appearance).

In their final home game of the regular season, the Gamecocks squeaked past the visiting Blue Hose, beating them 4-3 tonight.

USC took an early lead, putting up two runs in the first inning. Graham Saiko led off with a single, then came home on a RBI double from Chase Vergason. Joey Pankake walked and Max Schrock knocked a base hit to center that loaded the bases, and then Vergason came home as Grayson Greiner grounded into a double play, putting the home team on top 2-0.

Presbyterian put up their first run in the next inning. Brandon Paul, Nathan Chong, and Cam McRae hit back-to-back-to-back one-out singles, and Paul crossed the plate as Jacob Midkiff kept things going with a base hit of his own.

The score remained 2-1 until the seventh inning, when both teams added runs. The Blue Hose tied things up in the top of the inning. McRae reached first on a bad throw, then moved to second on a sac bunt by Midkiff. Ryan Hagan followed that with a single, and Jay Lizanich grounded out for a RBI.

Carolina regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, though. Sean Sullivan started things off with a walk, English laid down a bunt single, and Rosenberg reached first to load the bases. Saiko and Vergason then launched back-to-back sac flies to put the Yardcocks up 4-2.

Presbyterian had one more run left in them, and it came in the top of the ninth. Chong led off with a double, then advanced on a fly out by McRae. Hagan came through with a two-out RBI base hit, but that was all the rallying they could manage.

» Continue reading “South Carolina Closes Out Home Season With Win Over Presbyterian”

Things got a little testy at Carolina Stadium today, when Georgia’s baseball team had words with third base coach Sammy Esposito and Joey Pankake following a controversial call on Pankake. That led to ejections and heckling and confusion, but fortunately didn’t derail South Carolina’s victory.

Both teams were scoreless until the third inning. In the top of the inning, Heath Holder led off with a double, Sean McLaughlin laid down a sac bunt, and with one out, Hunter Cole doubled to make it 2-0 UGA. It was the only lead they would have, though, and the Cocks responded in the bottom of the inning.

Graham Saiko knocked a base hit up the middle with one out, Pankake singled with two outs, and Grayson Greiner came through with a RBI base hit to get the home team on the board. After that, Max Schrock drew a walk to load the bases, then Brison Celek knocked a single that got him two RBI and made it 3-2 in favor of USC.

The Yardcocks padded their lead in the fourth. Kyle Martin started things off with a walk, Tanner English laid down a bunt single, and then a wild pitch advanced both of the runners. Saiko grounded out but brought in a run, Chase Vergason came through with a RBI base hit, and then was able to move up on another wild pitch. Pankake singled to right to make it 6-2 Carolina, and later tried to steal third and was called out to end the inning.

It appeared to be a bad call, though, and Pankake was highly unamused. So was Esposito, and some sort of shouting match ensued with the Georgia players. It was all a big hot mess that resulted in craziness, which included fans shouting at the visiting team and Esposito, Gamecocks strength and conditioning coach Billy Anderson, and Bulldogs assistant coach Jason Jacobs being removed from the game.

» Continue reading “Bulldogs Have Some Bark, Little Bite As Gamecocks Sweep Series”

This year’s senior class was honored before today’s game. (L-R: Nolan Belcher, LB Dantzler, Colby Holmes, Dante Rosenberg, Patrick Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Chase Vergason, Tyler Webb, Adam Westmoreland)

Jordan Montgomery tossed a no-hitter through six innings and the Gamecocks cruised to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Bulldogs today at Carolina Stadium, giving them a win on Senior Day and locking up the series.

USC got on the board first, in the second inning. With two outs, Max Schrock walked, then Connor Bright brought him home with a RBI double that put the Cocks up 1-0.

They added to their lead in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. In the fourth, Joey Pankake led off with a triple, then crossed the dish on a one-out sac fly from Grayson Greiner, putting the home team on top 2-0.

In the fifth inning, T.J. Costen knocked a two-out single, Graham Saiko followed that with a base hit of his own, and Chase Vergason came through with a RBI single to make it 3-0. Pankake then delivered a single that was good for two more runs, putting Carolina up 5-0.

The Yardcocks made it 6-0 in the sixth, when Dantzler started things off with a walk, Greiner doubled, and Schrock launched a sac fly to get Dantzler in.

UGA finally got on the board with their one and only run in the top of the seventh inning. Kyle Farmer knocked a one-out triple and Jared Walsh brought him across home plate with a sac fly.

Carolina padded their lead again in the bottom of the inning, though, scoring their last run of the day after Saiko singled, Vergason reached first on a fielder’s choice, stole second, then scored thanks to an error.

» Continue reading “South Carolina Beats Georgia, Clinches Series”

Grayson Greiner had a pretty okay night, I guess.

Nolan Belcher finally got some run support, Grayson Greiner was a homer away from the cycle, and South Carolina played solid offense and defense en route to a 7-2 win over Georgia tonight.

The Bulldogs took an early lead, as Nelson Ward started the game with a home run. The Gamecocks answered in the bottom of the first, though. With two outs, Joey Pankake knocked a base hit up the middle, LB Dantzler, DH-ing, doubled to get Pankake in, and Greiner belted a triple to bring home Dantzler and make it 2-1 in favor of the home team.

USC padded their lead in the third inning. Dantzler led off with a walk, Greiner doubled, and Graham Saiko came through with a RBI sac fly. Then Kyle Martin, tonight’s first baseman in place of Dantzler, singled to right to up the score to 4-1.

The Cocks added to their lead again in the fifth. Greiner started things off with a base hit, Saiko walked, and Martin laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners. Connor Bright reached first on an error, which also brought Greiner across the dish. English notched a RBI courtesy of a sac bunt, making it 6-1 Carolina. Schrock then came through with a single for the Yardcocks’ final run of the game.

UGA had just one more run left in them, and it came in the eighth inning. Heath Holder sent a base hit up the middle, DJ Smith knocked a one-out base hit, and Ward laid down a RBI bunt single to get in their second and final run of the game.

» Continue reading “Belcher, Offense Propel Yardcocks Past Dawgs”

Schrock’s blast put the Gamecocks on the board…

After falling in both games against Vanderbilt this weekend, the Gamecocks got back in the win column tonight, beating the visiting Terriers 9-3.

Wofford took an early lead, putting up two runs in the first inning. Alec Paradowski knocked a one-out base hit, Josh Hyman singled to right, and with runners on the corners, Seth Neely came through with a RBI single. James Plaisted followed that with a RBI sac fly to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

USC cut the lead in half, though, as Max Schrock homered to lead off the bottom of the first. The Cocks had a chance to add more runs in the fourth inning, but left two runners stranded instead.

The score stayed at 2-1 until the sixth inning, when both teams scored again. In the top of the inning, Paradowski started things off with a base hit, Neely knocked a one-out single, and a throwing error by Colby Holmes allowed Paradowski to make it home.

Carolina added a run in the bottom of the inning. Dantzler walked with one out, Grayson Greiner doubled, and Graham Saiko got a boo-boo and a free base to load the bags with Yardcocks. Then with two outs, Sean Sullivan got a boo-boo and a free base of his own, bringing Dantzler across the dish to make it 3-2.

South Carolina broke things open in the next inning, though. Chase Vergason singled with one out, then Joey Pankake sent a bomb to right which gave the Gamecocks a 4-3 lead. Kyle Martin followed that up by walking and stealing second, Greiner doubled to bring Martin in, then Greiner advanced to third and home on two straight wild pitches. Brison Celek kept things going with a base hit, Sullivan hit a single, and with runners on the corners, Tanner English came through with a two-RBI base hit to make the score 8-3 in favor of the home team.

» Continue reading “Schrock, Pankake Go Yard As South Carolina Tops Wofford”

USC and Vandy only got to play two games in Columbia this weekend thanks to the yucky weather, and unfortunately for the home team, they lost both of them.

South Carolina 2, Vanderbilt 3

The ‘Dores took an early lead in Friday night’s game. In the second inning, Vince Conde knocked a two-out single, then Spencer Navin went yard to put the visitors on top 2-0.

The Cocks had a chance to get themselves on the board in the fourth inning, but left two runners stranded instead.

Vandy then padded their lead a little bit in the sixth. Mike Yastrzemski walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and stole third. He came home when Conrad Gregor singled back up the middle. Luckily, the Commodores left two men stranded so no more damage was done. They also stranded two runners in the seventh inning, another fortunate break for Carolina.

The Yardcocks finally tallied a run in the eighth inning. Graham Saiko knocked a one-out double, then Joey Pankake hit a double of his own to get Saiko across the dish and end the shutout.

South Carolina tried to rally in the ninth, but fell just short. They did manage one run, though, as Kyle Martin came through with a pinch-hit homer.

Gamecocks starter Nolan Belcher, who has pitched really well this season and not always gotten much help offensively/defensively, went six innings and allowed six hits, three runs, walked one batter, hit one, and struck out six. He took the loss and drops to 6-5 on the season. Colby Holmes threw the final three innings and gave up two hits and also recorded a K.

Vanderbilt starter Kevin Ziomek lasted eight innings and surrendered eight hits, one run, and struck out four batters. He earned the win and improves to 9-2 on the season. Brian Miller pitched the final inning and allowed one hit and one run. He also got the save, his 13th.

USC’s biggest problem was that though they made good contact, they hit a lot of balls right to ‘Dores players. Pankake and LB Dantzler each had two hits to lead the Cocks at the plate and Navin had two to lead the visitors.

» Continue reading “Gamecocks Drop Both Games Against Commodores”

In one of the most important series of the season, the Gamecocks went into Baton Rouge and beat the Tigers twice, including one shut out, to win the series and keep them in good shape for the postseason. This should also hopefully calm some fans who were ready to hit the panic button a week or two ago.

South Carolina 2, LSU 5

The Tigers were the first ones on the board Friday night, and they put up their first runs in the second inning. With two outs, Ty Ross and Jacoby Jones took back-to-back walks, then Jared Foster singled to load the bases. Sean McMullen came through with a base hit of his own to bring both Ross and Jones across the plate and put the home team up 2-0.

LSU added to their lead in the fourth. Ross, Jones, and Foster knocked back-to-back-to-back singles, then McMullen launched a sac fly that put his team on top 3-0.

The Cocks ended the shutout in the fifth inning, as Connor Bright singled with two outs, then Tanner English tripled to get him home and make it 3-1.

The Tigers added another run in the sixth, though. McMullen got a boo-boo and a free base with two outs, Mark Laird knocked a base hit, and with runners on the corners, Alex Bregman singled to left to put LSU up 4-1. They added their final run in the next inning. Raph Rhymes reached first on an error by Chase Vergason, then made it to second. He advanced to third thanks to a sac bunt from Christian Ibarra, and came home when Ross singled to center.

USC tried to rally in the ninth inning, but they managed only one more run, as Joey Pankake led off with a homer.

Yardcocks starter Nolan Belcher lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits, four runs, walked four batters, struck out four, and hit one batter. He took the loss and dropped to 6-4 on the season. Patrick Sullivan pitched the remaining 2 1/3 innings and gave up three hits, one run, and tallied one K.

Tigers starter Aaron Nola tossed a complete game and surrendered six hits, two runs, struck out eight batters, and hit one. He obviously earned the win and improved to 8-0 on the season.

Pankake had two hits to lead Carolina at the plate while Sean McMullen, Ty Ross, Jacoby Jones, and Jared Foster all had two for LSU.

» Continue reading “South Carolina Takes Two Out Of Three Against LSU”

After having six players taken in last year’s draft, the Gamecocks did one better this year. Congrats to all seven of the Gamecocks who were selected, and also to the six so far who have been picked up as undrafted free agents!

While we’ll miss seeing them in the Garnet and Black, here’s where they’ll be starting their NFL careers.

• D.J. Swearinger – drafted in the second round and No. 57 overall by the Houston Texans
• Ace Sanders - drafted in the fourth round and No. 101 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Marcus Lattimore - drafted in the fourth round and No. 131 overall by the San Francisco 49ers
• Devin Taylor - drafted in the fourth round and No. 132 overall by the Detroit Lions
• DeVonte Holloman – drafted in the sixth round and No. 185 overall by the Dallas Cowboys
• T.J. Johnson - drafted in the seventh round and No. 251 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
• Justice Cunningham - drafted in the seventh round and No. 254 overall by the Indianapolis Colts, making him this year’s Mr. Irrelevant (you’re not the only Gamecock anymore, Ryan Succop)!
• Byron Jerideau – UDFA, picked up by the San Diego Chargers
• Damario Jeffery – UDFA, picked up by the Carolina Panthers
• Adam Yates – UDFA, picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Aldrick Fordham - UDFA, picked up by the St. Louis Rams
• Kenny Miles - UDFA, picked up by the Washington Redskins
• Shaq Wilson - UDFA, picked up by the New Orleans Saints

Best of luck, guys!