*** #13 South Carolina Baseball (15-11/37-15) vs. #18 Tennessee (14-13/36-17) Series Thread ***

[kingofnerf]

Carolina closes out the 2023 regular season with a three-game set against Tennessee at Founders Park. The series starts on Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m. Friday’s (May 19) game also begins at 7 p.m. with Saturday’s (May 20) series finale at 2 p.m.

Thursday and Friday’s games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. Saturday’s game will be televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson on the call. All games also will be broadcast on the Gamecocks Sports Network from Learfield with Derek Scott and Tommy Moody on the call.

Game 1
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: 107.5 The Game
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

SERIES VS. TENNESSEE
Carolina holds a 66-43 series advantage on Tennessee heading into this weekend’s series. The Volunteers swept the Gamecocks in Knoxville last season. Cade Austin pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief, striking out five in Saturday’s game. The last meeting in Columbia was on the final weekend of 2021. Carolina won the middle game behind a Brady Allen home run and a stellar effort on the mound from Brett Kerry.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Thursday
South Carolina Eli Jones (So. RHP) 4-3, 3.40 ERA, 42.1 IP, 12 BB, 52 K
Tennessee Andrew Lindsey (Jr. RHP) 1-2, 2.98 ERA, 48.1 IP, 16 BB, 49 K
Friday
South Carolina TBA
Tennessee Chase Dollander (Jr. RHP) 6-5, 4.35 ERA, 68.1 IP, 25 BB, 94 K
Saturday
South Carolina TBA
Tennessee TBA

SENIOR DAY SATURDAY
Carolina will honor seven seniors before Saturday’s game against Tennessee. The Gamecocks will recognize Noah Hall, James Hicks, Will McGillis, Nick Proctor, Wesley Sweatt, Brett Thomas and Braylen Wimmer before the 2 p.m. start. Carolina also will recognize managers Bryson Mitchell and Noah Wise and bullpen catcher Mickey Paragano.

Baseball Closes Regular Season with Series vs. Tennessee

gamecocksonline.com

Gamecock infielder Michael Braswell (7) congratulates Talmadge LeCroy (5) at the plate during Tuesday night's Charlotte game. LeCroy had just homered to left center, driving in Ethan Petry to tie the game 7-7 in the 7th inning. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

 

[kingofnerf]

Game 1 postponed until 3:00 pm due to rain.

Looking out the window, I don't see how we'll play any games today due to the constant rain.

Who knows?

 

[kingofnerf]

The Vols shut us out 5-0 in Game 1.

Box score:

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	L
UT	0	0	1	3	0	1	0	0	0		5	10	1	12
USC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	3	1	1

Scoring summary:

			TENNESSEE	SOUTH CAROLINA
Tennessee	3rd	ENSLEY, H. singled to right field, RBI (0-0); AHUNA, M. advanced to second; SCOTT, C. scored.	1​	0​
Tennessee	4th	DREILING, D. homered to left center, 2 RBI (0-0); DENTON, Z. scored.	3​	0​
Tennessee	4th	ENSLEY, H. singled to center field, RBI (0-2 KKF); AHUNA, M. advanced to second; SCOTT, C. scored.	4​	0​
Tennessee	6th	ENSLEY, H. singled to third base, RBI (1-0 B); SCOTT, C. scored.	5​	0​

Tennessee’s starting pitcher Andrew Lindsey went 8.1 innings and allowed just three hits.

You have to give credit where it's due. Great pitching by the Vols.

 

[kingofnerf]

Gamecock RHP Brett Thomas (30) on the mound against Tennessee Friday night. Thomas had four strikeouts in two innings of relief and is also one of the 7 Seniors that will be honored Saturday. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

Gamecock shortstop Michael Braswell (7) makes a throw to first base in Game 1 with the Vols Friday. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

 

[kingofnerf]

Our bats finally show up, and the Yardcocks win Game 1 of the double-header 6-2.

Box score:

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E	L
UT	0	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	3	2	3
USC	1	0	0	0	0	5	X		6	7	0	3

Scoring summary:

			TENNESSEE	SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina	1st	Wimmer homered to left center, RBI (0-0).	0	1
Tennessee	5th	SCOTT, C. doubled to right field, RBI (2-1 BSB); DENTON, Z. scored.	1	1
South Carolina	6th	Petry singled through the left side, RBI (1-1 BK); Messina advanced to second, advanced to third on a fielding error by lf; Denny scored.	1	2
South Carolina	6th	Casas singled to right field, RBI (1-2 SFBFF); Petry advanced to third; Messina scored.	1	3
South Carolina	6th	LeCroy doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI (3-2 SBBSFB); Casas scored; Petry scored.	1	5
South Carolina	6th	Braswell singled to center field, RBI (2-2 KBKB); LeCroy scored, unearned.	1	6

 

[kingofnerf]

Gamecock RHP Jack Mahoney (23) on the mound against Tennessee in Game 1 of the double-header Saturday afternoon. Mahoney went six innings, allowing just three hits and a run with a career-high tying nine strikeouts to just one walk. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

Gamecock third baseman Talmadge LeCroy (5) makes contact against Tennessee in Game 1 of Saturday's double-header. LeCroy doubled down the left field line, driving in Gavin Casas and Ethan Petry to increase Carolina's lead to 5-1 in the 6th inning. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

 

[kingofnerf]

The Gamecocks lose the final game of the Tennessee series 12-1 to give the Vols the series win.

Box score:

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E	L
UT	0	0	0	4	1	1	6		12	10	0	8
USC	0	0	0	1	0	0	0		1	5	2	5

Scoring summary:

			TENNESSEE	SOUTH CAROLINA
Tennessee	4th	DENTON, Z. singled to center field, RBI (1-2 BKS); MOORE, C. advanced to second; MERRITT, G. scored, unearned.	1	0
Tennessee	4th	SCOTT, C. reached on a fielding error by 2b, RBI (2-2 FBBF); DENTON, Z. advanced to third; MOORE, C. scored.	2	0
Tennessee	4th	AHUNA, M. doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI (0-2 KS); SCOTT, C. scored, unearned; DENTON, Z. scored, unearned.	4	0
South Carolina	4th	Messina homered to left center, RBI (1-0 B).	4	1
Tennessee	5th	MERRITT, G. homered to right field, RBI (0-0).	5	1
Tennessee	6th	STARK, C. homered to left center, RBI (1-0 B).	6	1
Tennessee	7th	DENTON, Z. flied out to cf, SF, RBI (0-0); DICKEY, J. scored.	7	1
Tennessee	7th	SCOTT, C. homered to right field, 3 RBI (0-2 KSF); MOORE, C. scored; MERRITT, G. scored.	10	1
Tennessee	7th	DREILING, D. walked, RBI (3-1 KBBBB); TEARS, K. advanced to second; AHUNA, M. advanced to third; STARK, C. scored.	11	1
Tennessee	7th	JASLOVE, A. walked, RBI (3-1 BFBBB); DREILING, D. advanced to second; TEARS, K. advanced to third; AHUNA, M. scored.	12	1

Cole Messina’s 17th home run of the year in the 4th inning scored the lone run.

 

[kingofnerf]

The Gamecocks honored 10 Seniors prior to Game 1: Noah Hall, James Hicks, Will McGillis, Nick Proctor, Wesley Sweatt, Brett Thomas and Braylen Wimmer along with student managers Bryson Mitchell and Noah Wise and bullpen catcher Mickey Paragano. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)

 

[kingofnerf]

View: https://youtu.be/mA9FRvWzt5I

 

[kingofnerf]

Carolina will now look ahead to the postseason, starting with the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met. The Gamecocks are the sixth seed in the tournament and will face No. 11 Georgia on Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. EST in the single-elimination opening round.