Gamecocks still pondering Game 1 starter; Okla. State will go with ace
Two days after defeating upstart UNC Wilmington in the winner-take-all game of the Columbia Regional, South Carolina is still deciding on the starting pitcher for Saturday’s Game 1 of the Super Regional against Oklahoma State (3 p.m., ESPN2).
The choice will likely boil down to Clarke Schmidt, Braden Webb or Tyler Johnson, Gamecock pitching coach Jerry Meyers said Wednesday night on SportsTalk. Schmidt and Webb both pitched an inning late in Tuesday’s regional clincher.
The decision could be announced Thursday night.
“We feel we have some options after recovery time,” Meyers said Wednesday night on SportsTalk . “It’s a good thing our Super Regional is starting on Saturday. It gives our guys a little bit extra time that is much needed. Those guys had a good first 24 hours of recovery. They say they feel very well. Hopefully, we’re back to where we were last week and nobody needs an extra day. (Thursday’s practice) will be a telltale sign of where those guys feel like they’re at in recovery time.”
The Gamecocks relied primarily on seven pitchers in five Columbia Regional games (Schmidt, Reed Scott, Taylor Widener, Josh Reagan, Webb, Johnson, Adam Hill) and with a trip to the College World Series at stake, Meyers plans to stick with what works.
Johnson, of course, surprised many by hurling a complete game five-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the first game of the regional championship round against UNCW. He threw 115 pitches.
“He did a very good job staying in the moment and focusing on one pitch at a time,” Meyers said. “As the innings went on, his pitch count was good and he felt good physically. We got a lot more out him than we thought in terms of mileage.”
Johnson could be a Game 3 option, Meyers said, if the Super Regional boils down to a winner-take-all game unless he is utilized earlier Games 1 or 2.
“We’re just going to try to win Game 1,” Meyers said. “Whoever is available there (could pitch). Those two guys (Schmidt and Webb) have started all year long for us. If the recovery is not super slow, one of those two guys will be our option.”
Because Oklahoma State cruised through the Clemson Regional (outscored three opponents, 27-4), the Cowboys have fewer questions about their Game 1 starter. Sophomore RHP Thomas Hatch (7-2, 2.16 ERA in 112.1 IP, 102 K, 28 BB), who threw seven scoreless innings against Nebraska in OSU’s Regional opener, gets the ball for the Cowboys.
“We will roll Thomas out there for Game 1 like we have all year long,” said Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday, a former Vanderbilt assistant, on SportsTalk. “He has thrown the first game of every weekend all year. That won’t change. Then we’ll go from there and keep evaluating our plan and figure out how we matchup best.”
After capturing the Clemson Regional late Saturday night, OSU stayed in the Upstate and practiced at Doug Kingsmore Stadium for three days before making their way to Columbia Wednesday.
