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baseball Edit

Baseball Preview: Power 5 conference schools clash in Columbia

Catcher John Jones leads the Gamecocks in hitting after 5 games
Catcher John Jones leads the Gamecocks in hitting after 5 games


WHAT: Penn State (2-2) at South Carolina (5-0)

WHERE: Founders Park, Columbia, S.C.

WHEN: Friday 4 p.m.; Saturday 2 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 p.m.

RADIO/TV: Gamecock Radio Network on 107.5 FM in Columbia (Andy Demetra, Brad Muller & Tommy Moody); SEC Network Plus (Derek Scott & Trey Dyson).

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS:

Friday: USC RHP Clarke Schmidt (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP) vs. Penn State LHP Taylor Lehman (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 6.0 IP).

Saturday: USC RHP Braden Webb (1-0, 3.60 ERA, 5.0 IP) vs. Penn State RHP Sal Biasi (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP)

Sunday: USC RHP Taylor Widener (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP) vs. Penn State RHP Justin Hagenman (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 IP)

The intense SEC-Big Ten rivalry rarely extends beyond the gridiron. Occasionally, though, teams from the two super conferences clash on the hardwood or the baseball diamond.

This weekend is one of those times when Penn State visits the Palmetto State for a 3-game weekend series beginning Friday at 4 p.m. In doing so, the Nittany Lions become the first Power 5 school to face the Gamecocks in a weekend series in Columbia since West Virginia (now a member of the Big 12) in 1997.

“It’s two teams from power leagues going at it this weekend,” Gamecocks coach Chad Holbrook said. “It will be neat to see. That was one of the main reasons we scheduled them. We thought it would be a very competitive weekend.

“We’re playing a national name. Penn State is a national brand. For them to come in here and play us three games says a lot about them. We’re certainly looking forward to the series.”

*** ALSO SEE: Predict & Win USC-Penn State series ***

Since college baseball is dominated by schools in the Southeast, Southwest and West Coast, the Big Ten has struggles to gain a national footing in the sport. But over the last decade or so, league schools have invested in new facilities, built stadiums and poured more money into their programs.

The expenditures seem to be paying off. Indiana reached the College World Series two years ago. Illinois hosted a regional in 2015. Previously, Purdue and Ohio State hosted regionals. Over the last few years, college baseball in Big Ten country has grown into a sport some people actually pay diligent attention to on a daily basis rather than merely ignoring it.

“They have put a lot of resources into (baseball) and they want to be good,” Holbrook said. “The commissioner there had a few comments about them being good in baseball too and they felt they were in position to host a few (more) regionals in the past.

“The Indiana coaches have done a great job. Illinois had a big year last year. Penn State is going to give us a heckuva challenge this weekend. Schools up there are putting resources towards their baseball programs and they’re working harder on the road recruiting.”

Ohio State’s baseball stadium compares favorably to many in the southeast.

Penn State arrives in Columbia after going 2-2 in a tournament at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C., this past weekend. The Nittany Lions fell, 3-1, to Monmouth in the season opener, swept a doubleheader from Army on the second day and lost to Bryant on the final day.

PSU head coach Rob Cooper is in his third year at the helm in Happy Valley. Cooper coached current Gamecock Alex Destino on USA Baseball’s 2013 18U National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF U18 World Cup.

NOTES

-- JUCO transfer sophomore catcher John Jones leads the Gamecocks with a .421 average (8-for-17) with nine RBI, seven runs scored and a .500 on-base percentage. He enjoyed a fabulous first weekend in a Gamecock uniform by hitting .600 (6-for-10) against Albany with a homer, double and nine runs batted in, most RBI in a three-game series since LB Dantzler drove in 10 runs against Albany in 2013.

-- Dom Thompson-Williams, another JUCO transfer, is hitting .353 (6-for-17) with four RBI and six runs scored.

-- Shortstop Marcus Mooney has six runs scored and a .500 on-base percentage after five games, He is tied with Thompson-Williams for the team lead with five walks.

-- Sophomore infielder Jonah Bride leads the Gamecocks with a .636 on-base percentage. Bride is hitting .333 (4-for-12) and leads the Gamecocks with eight runs scored. He has walked four times and leads USC and the SEC with six hit by pitches.

-- Three different Gamecocks have started in center field in the first five games – sophomore Clark Scolamiero (three starts), junior Gene Cone (two OF starts, one in CF) and freshman Danny Blair (one start).

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