Palmetto State parity: USC baseball team struggling against instate programs

Some of South Carolina’s struggles this baseball season have started and ended at the state line.

The Gamecocks have played 14 games against opponents from Palmetto State schools. They played two opponents in three-game weekend series – winning two-of-three in the College of Charleston series and losing two-of-three in the Clemson series – and they split eight midweek games against Furman, The Citadel, Charleston Southern, Winthrop, Coastal Carolina and Presbyterian.

The record in those games tells the story: Seven wins, seven losses.

“College baseball in this state is a lot better this year. There’s a little bit more parity, and we, maybe, haven’t played as well as we’d have liked in some of those instances. That’s just where we are. I think it’s ebb and flow,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said.

“... Historically, we have (won most of our midweek games). This year, we’ve had a few bumps in the road.”

The Gamecocks (25-17), who play Tennessee on the road this weekend in a crucial SEC series, have lost their past two midweek games against instate foes, (Presbyterian and Furman), teams that aren’t powers in their own conferences.

That happens at times in nearly every season. The 2011 national championship team, which lost 14 games all season, lost midweek contests to Furman and The Citadel. The 2012 team that reached the national championship series lost a game to Division II power Francis Marion.

But what makes this season different is the total number of losses against instate teams. Holbrook realizes the inconsistent play of his team is a major factor.

“We, maybe, made a mistake here or there to lose a game at Coastal, who I think is very good,” Holbrook said. “We won a series against the College of Charleston, who’s very, very good. We didn’t play well in some games. We didn’t swing the bat against Furman.”

Clemson has found itself in the same situation, as the Tigers have gone 4-5 against instate teams.

College of Charleston coach Monte Lee, whose Cougars (29-9) are ranked No. 20 in the Baseball America Top 25, believes this state is a reflection of a parity that is playing out across the nation. He points out mid-major programs are beating power conference teams in midweek games with more frequency.

“There are a lot of teams in similar size to the College of Charleston that are having success,” Lee said.

The Cougars, who were the only team in the state to reach an NCAA Super Regional last year, are taking advantage of rules changes five years ago that said teams could have a maximum of 27 players on scholarship on a 35-man roster. They also must receive at least 25 percent of a full scholarship, which keeps bigger programs from hoarding players and helps level the playing field for mid-majors.

“The rules limit you in what you can do with your roster year-in and year-out,” Lee said.

He also believes his program has benefited from the power conference schools getting high school players to commit earlier in their careers as freshmen and sophomores, which has caused them to miss on players who blossom later.

“Some of those (younger) guys don’t pan out, and the bigger schools that are committing all their slots in the future are limiting themselves,” Lee said. “Sometimes really good players blossom later, going into their senior years, and we’ll go sign them. We’ll get really good players that way. Some of the bigger schools are done recruiting by that point (for that class).”

Holbrook’s team has two games left against instate schools Wofford and USC Upstate to get that mark over .500.

“You have to give some credit to some other really good programs in this state,” he said. “We also have to do a better job of improving upon our weaknesses and getting back to those spots where we’re comfortable and we’re used to being.”

This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Palmetto State parity: USC baseball team struggling against instate programs."