The South Carolina baseball team had its first taste of competition before the 2026 season begins with a 12-inning scrimmage against Charlotte on Nov. 2. The Gamecocks defeated the 49ers 18-6.
The Gamecocks finished the 2025 season under first-year head coach Paul Mainieri with a 28-29 (6-24) record. With a major roster turnover and one of the nation's top-ranked transfer portal classes, the Gamecocks will try to get back to their winning ways.
“I thought we played really, really well in just about every phase,” Mainieri said. “I’ve been watching every day in practice and in our inner squad scrimmages, so I’m not terribly surprised the way we played today.”
Sophomore infielder Beau Hollins had the first hit of the scrimmage in the bottom of the second inning with a single to right field. Sophomore infielder KJ Scobey put the Gamecocks on the board immediately after with a two-run home run.
Junior designated hitter Dawson Harman blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to give the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead. The bats continued to get hot in the third inning with freshman designated hitter Will Craddock reaching second on an error. Sophomore designated hitter Erik Parker had an RBI single to score Craddock.
Junior infielder Patrick Evans singled to center field, and redshirt senior catcher Talmadge LeCroy blasted a three-run home run for a 7-0 lead after three innings. Parker added a two-run home run in the fifth inning. The 49ers finally scored in the seventh inning with a two-out RBI double from redshirt senior infielder Alec DeMartino.
The Gamecocks continued to add to their lead with a two-RBI single from Hollins in the eighth inning, an RBI double by Parker and a productive out from senior infielder Logan Sutter. Junior outfielder Tyler Bak had a two-RBI single in the 12th inning to cap off his multi-hit game. Charlotte added three runs in the top of the 12th inning on a three-run home run, but could not cut into the Gamecocks' dominant 18-run afternoon.
Pitching staff dominates Charlotte hitters
The South Carolina pitching staff held the Niners to only six runs, while striking out 12 on the day.
Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Philpott, a Florida transfer, started the scrimmage for the Gamecocks and had a solid outing with two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Junior left-handed pitcher Bradley Hodges, a transfer from Virginia, had three strikeouts in two innings and got out of a jam in the fourth.
“I felt very strongly going into the fall that we’ve really upgraded our pitching staff in terms of arm strength and velocities and so forth,” Mainieri said.
Senior right-handed pitcher Cullen Horowicz, junior pitchers Brandon Stone, Josh Gunther, Hudson Lee, Alex Valentin and sophomore pitcher Logan Prisco all made appearances on the mound as well. All six pitchers combined for eight innings and allowed all six runs.
Transfers with offensive impacts
South Carolina had the No. 4-ranked transfer class according to 64 Analytics and the No. 8-ranked class according to D1 Baseball.
Parker, a transfer from Georgia, had a productive day as a designated hitter and at shortstop. Parker went 4-5 with an RBI single and two RBI doubles, driving in six for South Carolina.
“We've got to figure out a way to get Erik Parker playing time, and I think he’s got a bright future,” said Mainieri. “He’s a good athlete, and he swung the bat great today.”
Bak, a Wofford transfer, had a solid day offensively for the Gamecocks, with one hit and two RBIs, scoring two runs.
Sutter, a transfer from Purdue, had two walks. Senior catcher Jake Randolph entered the scrimmage late and was 2-2 with a single and a double.
Returning players contribute to win
Hollins and Scobey both return to the Gamecocks' lineup after heavy contributions to last season’s team as freshmen.
Hollins struggled in his early at-bats, but had a two-out, two-strike RBI single that helped grow the Gamecocks' lead.
Scobey made the start at shortstop after spending the 2025 season at third base and showed poise behind the plate. Offensively, Scobey had one hit and scored one run while driving in two for the Gamecocks.
LeCroy also made his return to the lineup after missing most of the 2025 season with a hip injury. The catcher had one hit with three RBIs.
What’s next?
The Gamecocks travel to Charleston for a nine-inning scrimmage against the College of Charleston on Nov. 6. The Gamecocks open the 2026 season on Feb. 13 against Northern Kentucky.