Tyler Webb or Bryan Harper will start for Gamecocks
Oftentimes coaches say there's no such thing as a "hangover" following a big win.
Last week, when the South Carolina baseball team dropped its midweek game at The Citadel after sweeping Tennessee, USC appeared to be suffering from one. Now, as the Gamecocks follow up a series win over then-No. 1 Vanderbilt with a trip to Patriots Point and the College of Charleston today, they don't want to lose momentum like they did a week ago.
For a team that has dealt with as much adversity as the No. 2 Gamecocks have as of late, avoiding a hangover should be routine considering USC routed the Cougars 24-4 earlier this season in Columbia.
After straining his hamstring against Florida, USC outfielder Adam Matthews returned to the lineup during the Tennessee series but reinjured it in the second game of this weekend's series against Vandy. USC coach Ray Tanner said Monday on Columbia radio that his injury is not as serious as originally thought and Matthews may return this season. Furthermore, outfielder Jake Williams is still suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. The timetable for his return is uncertain as well.
Through it all though, the Gamecocks have kept winning.
"There's no question I'm proud of our players," said Tanner Sunday. "We have some adversity. We have some injuries — Matthews goes down again, but all teams go through some things that are difficult. You can either use it as a crutch or still find a way."
Tanner and the Gamecocks most certainly found a way, coming up with creative ways to get the team past what was rated as the best squad in the nation.
In a move that puzzled almost everyone, Tanner moved pitcher Steven Neff to designated hitter, where he sparked the rally that won Game 3 against the Commodores with a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Tanner also moved a scuffling Jackie Bradley Jr. to leadoff Sunday, where the junior shined, going 2-5 with an RBI.
Tanner will throw either Tyler Webb or Bryan Harper against the Cougars tonight. The last time the two teams faced off Colby Holmes was the starting pitcher in the midweek matchup, with Sullivan coming in for the final three innings.
The Cougars were able to get three earned runs on Holmes, who is now USC's Saturday starter. Charleston's Daniel Aldrich went 2-3 with an RBI in the matchup. In their most recent series, the Cougars dropped two out of three in a series against Elon.