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Cone standing out as leadoff hitter

South Carolina has had seven different leadoff hitters this season, but it seems like one player is standing out.

Junior outfielder Gene Cone has hit leadoff the last two games against USC Upstate and Davidson. And in those games he’s flourished, going 4-for-11 (.363) with two runs and four RBIs. The four RBIs Wednesday set a career high.

“He just has more experience than everyone else. In tight games he does little things that help you: getting bunts down, hit and run, knows what to do on the bases, never misses a sign,” head coach Chad Holbrook said.

Including Wednesday, Cone’s been at the top of the order four times this season, all of which coming in the last eight games.

His RBI numbers have flourished due to production at the bottom of the order with Marcus Mooney excelling lately, and Cone has taken ample opportunity, slugging .341 through 14 games this season.

At the top spot, he’s hit 7-for-18 (.388) and is making his case to become the everyday leadoff man. A natural contact hitter with speed, Cone can get on base in a variety of different ways, including bunting for hits.

“I feel very comfortable up there,” he said. “I don’t know how many games I played there last year, but I played enough. I like getting in there and I feel like I can hit with two strikes all the time, so that’s a good trait to have as a leadoff man."

*** Also see: In-depth USC-Arkansas series preview

While only hitting leadoff four times, Cone’s played in 14 games this year, starting 12 of those. Part of the reason is because of his consistency in the outfield.

He’s sporting a fielding percentage of 98.7 with 23 putouts and an assist. He’s only committed one error.

As a junior, he is the oldest returning member of an outfield studded with freshmen and sophomores. And that confidence is invaluable for team getting ready to start SEC play.

“He may not be our most talented outfielder, but he is our most polished. And that gets you somewhere in tight games,” Holbrook said. “He certainly executes all facets of the game, whatever we ask him to, no matter the situation. The fact that he can handle the bat well and he’s getting some confidence in the batter’s box is certainly good for our team.”

Cone’s hot streak over the last two games is good news for a young Gamecock team getting ready to start a tough stretch where they face three teams ranked in D1Baseball’s top 15, two of those series being on the road.

Arkansas is the first of those three teams as the No. 14 Razorbacks come to Columbia. This is Cone’s third go-round in the SEC, and with him hitting so well paired with his already-consistent fielding, he’ll most likely be in the lineup, if he’s not batting leadoff.

“He’s been around the block and he’s been in some very, very difficult in the SEC,” Holbrook said. “That experience helps him.”

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