Notebook: Gamecocks hopeful Max Schrock plays vs. LSU
It’s wait-and-see again this weekend for USC second baseman Max Schrock, who missed Tuesday night’s win against USC Upstate with a sprain to his right wrist.
Schrock battled through the pain last weekend against Texas A&M to go 7-for-15 and raise his numbers to .317 with four homers and 32 RBIs. USC coach Chad Holbrook will not make the call on Schrock’s availability against top-ranked LSU until he watches the junior take batting practice.
“I’m hopeful, but I’m not sure. He’s going to have to play in pain, regardless,” Holbrook said. “It’s not going to be perfect. Hopefully, he can be physically close to where he was last weekend when he played so well against Texas A&M.”
Reaching for the stars USC first baseman Kyle Martin, who hit home runs in all three games against Texas A&M, continues to make a push for SEC Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior is hitting .351 with 14 home runs and a league-best 56 RBIs, with SEC-only numbers of .396, 11 and 34.
“You analyze his numbers in SEC play, and if he’s not in the conversation, something’s wrong,” Holbrook said. “He’s matched anybody else in league play. To me, that should be a big part of the consideration when you’re voting on conference player of the year. His numbers speak for themselves.”
Holbrook also noted the 11 stolen bases, the great defense and Martin’s leadership, describing it as “an All-American-type season.”
Strong competition will come from Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi, Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, and LSU shortstop Alex Bregman.
USC VS. LSU
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Carolina Stadium
RADIO: WNKT-FM 107.5
TELEVISION: SEC Network, Thursday and Saturday; ESPNU, Friday
SERIES: LSU leads 32-24-1
LAST MEETING: The Gamecocks won two-of-three in the 2013 series
RECORDS: USC 31-22, 12-15 SEC; LSU 44-8, 19-7 SEC
RANKINGS: LSU is No. 1 in the Baseball America Top 25
PITCHING MATCHUPS: Thursday, USC LHP Jack Wynkoop, Jr., 8-4, 2.83 vs. LSU LHP Jared Poche, So., 7-1, 2.87;Friday, USC TBA vs. LSU RHP Austin Bain, Fr., 1-2, 2.98; Saturday, USC TBA vs. LSU RHP Alex Lange, Fr., 9-0, 2.13
NOTES: USC is 24-9 at home, while LSU is 12-2 on the road. ... The Tigers have won six of the last 10 meetings dating back to the start of the 2009 season. LSU won the 2009 national championship, and USC won the next two in 2010-11. ... USC is hitting .262 with 301 runs scored, 60 doubles, 40 homers and 63 stolen bases, while LSU is hitting .319 with 371 runs scored, 116 doubles, 43 homers and 101 stolen bases. ... The Gamecocks have an ERA of 4.00, while the Tigers have a 2.84 ERA.
This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Notebook: Gamecocks hopeful Max Schrock plays vs. LSU."