The No. 5 South Carolina baseball team powered through Northeastern and swept the visiting Huskies, thanks to solid pitching and some timely hitting.
The Gamecocks won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader by scores of 10-1 and 6-0, respectively. Junior pitcher Jack Wynkoop returned to his sophomore form in the first game, giving up just one run on three hits. He also struck out nine Northeastern batters while throwing just 84 pitches in eight innings of work.
In the second game of the doubleheader, sophomore pitcher Wil Crowe combined with three others out of the South Carolina bullpen to shut out Northeastern.
Crowe himself went just four innings, striking out seven and allowing four hits on only 62 pitches.
Since Crowe did not pitch the fifth inning, junior Vince Fiori got his first win of the season, pitching two innings and striking out one batter.
Head coach Chad Holbrook has not named a starter for next Friday’s game one showdown with Clemson, but both Wynkoop and Crowe will be rested and available.
“The way we played today, I thought that’s the way we are,” Holbrook said. “It’s one day, but if we can play consistent all year, we’ll be a darn good baseball team.”
The Gamecocks finished the series with a 6-4 win on Sunday. Freshman pitcher Clarke Schmidt earned the win in a game started by sophomore Josh Reagan. Reagan went just four innings, giving up seven hits and two runs.
Holbrook remains mum on next week’s starters. However, he has confidence in all of his perspective starters.
“As far as Sunday right now, I’ll talk to [Associate Head Coach Jerry] Meyers, and we’ll have something. I’m not really sure what we’re gonna do Tuesday yet … A number of guys are going to be ready to go.”
Freshman designated hitter Alex Destino continued his hot start to his collegiate career, getting a big hit in the series finale and knocking out a mammoth three-run homer to right-center. The home run was Destino’s second of the season. Coming into the season, scouts knew the 215-pounder would hit for power, but his .458 season average has caught some by surprise.
“I aspire to hit for a really high average, get on base as much as I can,” Destino said. “We’re a really good team all around, and I want to be on base as much as I can and score as many runs as we can.”
Sunday’s win was not a foregone conclusion like those on Saturday. Northeastern had the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth inning before sophomore pitcher Taylor Widener induced a strikeout, fly out and groundout to end the game.
The Gamecocks’ continued good play could be partially attributed to the addition of the team’s “rally scythe,” the Gamecocks’ dugout rallying point. Since bringing it out, the Gamecocks are 4-0. Destino explained its origin after Sunday’s game and attributed the newest gesture to South Carolina’s relievers just being plain silly.
“Our bullpen are called the reapers,” he said. “Just a bunch of knuckleheads goofing around.”
However, Destino also said it gives the dugout a spark.
After an impressive weekend sweep, it’s hard to argue with his logic.
The Gamecocks will host Davidson at home Tuesday before playing rival Clemson in a three-game series starting next weekend.
The first game of the series will be played at Clemson followed by Saturday’s contest at Fluor Field in Greenville before the series finale is played at Carolina Stadium in Columbia.