South Carolina vs. Coastal in baseball? It looks like it’s finally happening
The South Carolina and Coastal Carolina baseball programs haven’t played each other in a decade, but that might be changing soon.
New USC coach Kevin Schnall and new Coastal coach Chris Lemonis both said Friday at their introductory press conferences that they’re open to restarting the matchup between the in-state programs.
Schnall, who spent more than 20 years at Coastal and the last two as head coach, was introduced Friday night in a fanfare-filled ceremony that included fireworks at Founders Park. Lemonis was introduced earlier in the day as Schnall’s replacement.
Both were asked about getting the Gamecocks and Chanticleers to play on the baseball field. The two schools have played each other in football and basketball over the years but — for some reason — not in baseball.
And Schnall said playing against Coastal was at top of his priority list when he talked with USC Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati.
“We are ready to play,” Schnall said. “That was the first thing we had to negotiate. We have to play Coastal Carolina and Jeremiah agreed. We will start playing Coastal Carolina.”
The Chanticleers have shown a willingness to play any in-state program over the years, including two matchups many years against Clemson.
Both coaches said they talked about it Friday morning. Lemonis hopes it won’t just be CCU going to Columbia.
“I have heard this quote a lot over time. ‘Anyone, anywhere, any time.’ So maybe the Gamecocks will come down here and play us in Conway,” Lemonis said.
South Carolina leads the all-time series against the Chanticleers 12-6.
South Carolina’s last meeting with Coastal came in Columbia in 2016 with Gamecocks winning 4-2. The two schools played each year in the regular season from 2014-16 with USC winning two of three games.
Before that, the Gamecocks and Chanticleers met in the 2010 Super Regional in Conway. South Carolina swept that best-of-three matchup en route to an appearance in the College World Series and a national championship.
Schnall reflected on that super regional loss during his opening remarks Friday.
“The Gamecocks broke our hearts,” Schnall said. “As you remember, that group of guys went on to win back-to-back national championships. I remember walking out of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans stadium. The place was packed in garnet and black, over 5,000 people there.
“I remember saying what would it like to be a part of that. Today as your new head coach, I am about to find out.”
