USC scores walk-off win to clinch series vs. Ole Miss. Where things stand this season
The South Carolina baseball team has a weird resume.
After Saturday’s series finale victory over No. 25 Ole Miss at Founders Park, the Gamecocks (18-17, 6-9 SEC) are midway through SEC play and have just about a month until the end of the regular season. Mark Kingston’s team boasts series wins over some of the top teams in the country — as well as losses against some of the nation’s worst teams.
If the season were to end today, the Gamecocks more than likely wouldn’t be NCAA tournament-bound. But with five SEC series remaining, a postseason appearance is not out of the question.
Saturday’s thrilling 9-8, series-clinching walkoff win over the Rebels (21-14, 5-10) gave the Gamecocks their third series win over a ranked opponent, with earlier wins over then-No. 1 Texas and then-No. 4 Vanderbilt. Those wins would look strong on any resume.
But then there are the glaring losses. The Gamecocks have dropped midweek games to The Citadel (No. 205 RPI), Presbyterian (No. 177 RPI) and Xavier (No. 98), while also getting swept by rival Clemson (No. 54). A sweep by the hands of No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville is a little more forgivable.
Coming into Saturday’s finale, USC ranked No. 63 in the RPI, which isn’t an elite ranking but keeps the Gamecocks within striking distance. The Gamecocks are buoyed by those key series wins and the sixth-strongest schedule in the country. As the nation’s No. 1 RPI league, SEC competition gives USC plenty of opportunities to climb the RPI ladder.
But the Gamecocks will have work to do down the stretch. They’ve won two SEC series of the five they’ve played — both at home — and they’ll need to fare better against their next five SEC opponents. The selection committee especially favors teams that show an ability to win on the road, and the Gamecocks are just 1-7 away from Founders Park. Remaining road series at Auburn, Texas A&M and Florida give USC a massive opportunity to bolster its postseason case.
The team’s game-to-game inconsistency isn’t difficult to figure out. USC’s pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, losing key arms Julian Bosnic, James Hicks and Wesley Sweatt. And USC’s young hitters have struggled to adapt to the higher velocities and wicked breaking balls from SEC pitchers.
But a few key players have helped keep USC afloat during a rocky few weeks.
Junior right-hander Noah Hall has turned in three straight strong outings — including a Game 2 win over Ole Miss on Friday night. Sophomore righty Will Sanders has been equally effective. Sanders mowed through the Rebels lineup Saturday before running into trouble in the seventh, allowing four runs (three earned) in 6.1 innings.
Offensively, the Gamecocks let loose a little more Saturday, with Carson Hornung, Braylen Wimmer and Josiah Sightler all homering and team combining for 11 hits. After Ole Miss rallied to tie the game with four runs in the ninth, the Gamecocks responded by manufacturing the winning run and setting up a walk-off pinch-hit sacrifice fly for Jalen Vasquez.
“No team in the country has battled more adversity this year than we have, but we’re still alive,” Kingston said. “And that’s the key. That’s where I’m proud of this team for right now.
“... So it’s a team that just needs to continue to battle. It’s a team that needs to continue to learn how to use the pitchers we have and what their strengths and weaknesses are. And I think we’re doing that.”
Next USC baseball game
Who: South Carolina at Winthrop
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill
Watch: Streaming on ESPN Plus
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 6:50 PM.
