Neil White

Gamecocks Opening Day preview: Projected starters, game notes

South Carolina opens the 2015 season Friday with a baseball series at Carolina Stadium against College of Charleston.

The Gamecocks last opened the season against the Cougars from 1996-99. USC is 84-38 on Opening Day in school history. The Gamecocks have won 16 straight Opening Day contests.

Former USC All-American left-hander Michael Roth, who is now in the Cleveland Indians organization, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Projected starters

... Catcher: Logan Koch, So. or Hunter Taylor, Fr.

... First base: Kyle Martin, Sr.

... Second base: Max Schrock, Jr.

... Shortstop: Marcus Mooney, Jr. or Jordan Gore, So.

... Third base: DC Arendas, Jr.

... Left field: Jordan Gore, So., Patrick Harrington, Sr. or Elliott Caldwell, Sr.

... Center field: Gene Cone, So.

... Right field: Connor Bright, Sr.

... Designated hitter: Alex Destino, Fr.

... Starting pitchers: Jack Wynkoop, Jr.; Wil Crowe, So.; and Josh Reagan, So.

... Closer: Taylor Widener, So.

Game notes

... WHEN: Friday, 4 p.m.; doubleheader on Saturday, games at 1 p.m. and TBD

... WHERE: Carolina Stadium

... RADIO: WNKT-FM 107.5, Friday; 1320-AM Saturday

... ONLINE: SEC Network Plus

... SERIES: USC leads 48-6

... LAST MEETING: The Gamecocks won 4-2 last season

... RECORDS: USC 0-0, College of Charleston 0-0

... RANKINGS: USC is No. 13 in the Baseball America Top 25

... PITCHING MATCHUPS: Friday, USC LHP Jack Wynkoop, Jr. vs. CofC RHP Taylor Clarke, Jr; Saturday (1), USC RHP Wil Crowe, So. vs. CofC RHP Nathan Helvey, Jr.; Saturday (2), USC LHP Josh Reagan, So. vs. CofC LHP Eric Bauer, Jr.

-- Compiled by Neil White

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Gamecocks Opening Day preview: Projected starters, game notes."

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