Texas is solid or we're overrated. Probably a little of both but they showed up and have outplayed us. Starting pitching for both teams has been very good.
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***2021 Baseball South Carolina (11-1) at Texas (9-5) Game 2 Thread***
- Thread starter ConwayGamecock
- Start date
Texas came into this series as not exactly an offensive juggernaut. Their ballpark is sorta like the park in Hoover where we usually hold our SECT every year - it's a pretty expansive pitcher-friendly park. Of course Texas hit two homers against us today, but the wind was blowing out for both of those, and most likely assisted in them traveling out of the park.
Before this series, the biggest test we've faced was Clemson - they are currently 5-7 on the season, so they aren't lighting up their own season with success.
Texas is a solid team, but I still feel that half the SEC will consist of teams even better than them, so I am starting to get pretty concerned with the season....
Before this series, the biggest test we've faced was Clemson - they are currently 5-7 on the season, so they aren't lighting up their own season with success.
Texas is a solid team, but I still feel that half the SEC will consist of teams even better than them, so I am starting to get pretty concerned with the season....
LonghornGrad
Member
I think I made an account just to agree with this post (I'm posting as a longhorn fan if that wasn't obvious from my name) Yes - Disch Falk is an extremely pitcher-friendly park. Our hitters in the past, and so far this year, have been proficient in recognizing how to play the wind in this park which explains at least one, maybe both, of the HRs this afternoon. And every 2/3 games, there's usually a breeze that our players know to exploit. So I'd honestly chalk that up to familiarity in the park, because the starter they hit those off of today was nothing short of fabulous imo. He was bringing the noise and had great energy on the hill.
Also, you're absolutely right, this is no doubt Texas's biggest non-con series this season. I'm pretty sure this is not USC's biggest non-con series (my roommate is a Clemson fan, so I'm more than well aware what y'all accomplished the weekend before, even if it was just 2 games). So yes, I can understand if Texas is a little more juiced for this weekend playing an undefeated and well-regarded Gamecock (and SEC) baseball team.
It's a shame that USC seems like they're in a slump coming into this series, because we're aware of what Wes Clarke and the lineup is capable of, and their pitching has been up to the challenge to say the least. I think the starters for each team have been fantastic, and the relievers have for the most part done a tremendous job. USC has a great starting rotation moving forward.
By the way - your fans are freaking awesome. Even in a COVID season, y'all travel stupendously, and the fans I've interacted with at the Friday game were very genuine and generous. One of the great college baseball fanbases there is.
So glad for those of you that were able to make the trip this weekend! Excited to make the trip to Columbia in 2022!
Welcome to Gamecockfanatics, LonghornGrad! I would have to disagree with your position that Clemson is over Texas this season. Yes, Clemson is our bitter in-state rival, and so every year our series with them will be passionate. And that also makes records and stats thrown out the window when comparing the teams against each other.
But Clemson is 5-7 this year, and all that aside, I think Texas is a better executing team this season. And even though we're not rivals, there's a bit of old-time nostalgic rivalry here since all 3 games we've played against y'all have been in Omaha, and two of those 3 were for national titles. That tends to add energy to the games.
I'm impressed with our pitching, but right now our hitting is leaving me a bit skeptical - were our opponents' pitching just that bad, or are we just in a slump? Either possibility doesn't bode well for the future - we're set to open SEC play against Vanderbilt, and they tell me that the Commodores have a pitcher that's projected as the OVERALL #1 MLB draft pick for this coming draft. AND THEN they have a 2nd pitcher that's the projected OVERALL #2 pick. So whatever issues our hitting is going through, they better figure something out super fast, or this scoring drought is gonna last a while longer....