Game 1
Feb 24, 2023, vs Pennsylvania
The Gamecocks pushed their win streak to start the season to 6-0 Friday vs Pennsylvania with a more narrow win recently, 7-4. Carolina’s Ace, Will Sanders, got the nod and had another quality start. He went 5IP, 4H 1R, 0ER, 6K, 2BB. Sanders picked up the win and improved to 15-6 in his collegiate career here at South Carolina. The bats gave him some insurance runs early in the 2nd with a 3-run homer from Ethan Petry, a triple from Will McGillis, and a 2RBI single with the bases loaded for Caleb Denny.
The Quakers didn’t go quietly however, scoring 3 runs in the 7th, 2 off of Cade Austin, and 1 off Nick Proctor via the long ball. Chris Veach came in and closed the door late in the 8th & finished the 9th to record his first save of the season. Cole Messina added some insurance in the 8th with a solo shot to left field to put Carolina up 3 runs.
Game 1 Top Performers at the Plate:
- Caleb Denny: 3-5, 3RBIs
- Ethan Petry: 1-4, 3RBIs, R
STATS & NOTES
- Carolina now has 22 home runs on the year through 6 games.
Game 2
Feb 25, 2023, vs Pennsylvania
The Gamecocks clinched their 2nd straight series to open the 2023 season behind Noah Hall and Matthew Becker on the mound with a 1-0 win over Pennsylvania, Saturday afternoon at Founders Park.
Noah Hall was incredible, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts in 8 innings on the bump, only allowing 3 hits and no runs. Penn threatened in the 7th with a runner on 3rd but Hall slams the door with a strikeout and gave the Quaker dugout a little something extra on his way off the field as he was fired up! Matthew Becker picked up right where Hall left off with a pair of Ks to earn the save in the 9th and give the Gamecocks their 2nd shutout of the season.
After how the Gamecocks have started this season, it was shocking to only see them record 3 hits, but one from Ethan Petry was the difference maker. Petry blasted a solo shot into the Gamecock bullpen in the 2nd inning (his 5th HR of the season).
Game 2 Top Performers at the Plate:
Ethan Petry: 1-3, HR, RBI, R, BB
STATS & NOTES
- Carolina’s first 1-0 win since defeating Mercer, 1-0, on March 7, 2021.
- After 7 games, Carolina’s team ERA is lowered to 1.43 with the shutout (2nd).
- Noah Hall was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the week behind his 8IP, 0ER, 3H, 12K, 0BB.
Game 3
Feb 26, 2023, vs Pennsylvania
The Quakers took a 5-4 lead in the 8th on a solo shot from Cole McGonigal. The Gamecocks answered immediately and pulled out their first come-from-behind win of the season behind back-to-back home runs from Gavin Casas and Will McGillis in the 8th. Carolina completed the sweep with a 6-5 win Sunday afternoon. Their 2nd straight to start the season. The rest of the offense was provided mostly by Braylen Wimmer who scored on Caleb Denny’s triple in the 3rd and his homer in the 6th (1 of his 3 hits). The Gamecocks had plenty of opportunities to score with men on base, however, they left a massive 19 runners on base in this game, 11 from bases on balls and 7 from hit by pitches.
Jack Mahoney started on the hill for the Gamecocks but struggled a bit. His final line was 5.1IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 4K, 2BB on 90 pitches. Eli Jerzembeck came on in relief in the 6th, striking out three in 2.1 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits. Cade Austin picked up the win by pitching in the 8th when the Gamecocks took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Chris Veach came on in the 9th, closing the door, and recorded his second save of the weekend.
Carolina reached base on seven hits, seven hit by pitches, and 11 walks. The Gamecocks left 19 men on base in the win.
Game 3 Top Performers at the Plate:
- Braylen Wimmer: 3-4, HR, RBI, 2R, BB
- Gavin Casas: 1-2, HR, 2RBI, R, 2BB
STATS & NOTES
- Carolina improves to 8-0 on the season for the 2nd time in 3 years.
- Carolina has hit 26 home runs through their first 8 games.
- The Gamecocks have hit back-to-back home runs 3 times this season.
- Wimmer has hits in all 8 games to start the season.