Look back, look ahead: Albany sweep leads into busy week

South Carolina has always taken pride in its pitching and defense, two key components of the national championship winning teams earlier this decade.

The stakes were not nearly as high as playing in Omaha during this past weekend’s season opening sweep over Albany, but the Gamecocks demonstrated their prowess in the field and on the mound en route to outscoring the Great Dames, 24-4.

The trio of Alex Destino (1B), Marcus Mooney (SS) and Jonah Bride (3B) started every game at their respective positions, and combined for just one error in 48 chances. Overall, the Gamecocks committed only two errors in 27 innings for a sparkling fielding percentage of .983 (116 chances) after three games.

Both errors occurred in the first inning of Sunday’s 8-1 victory, so USC played error-free defense in the other 26 innings it was in the field.

“We made some really nice plays over the course of the weekend defensively,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said after Sunday’s win.

Freshman outfielder TJ Hopkins tied a single-game school record with two outfield assists on Opening Day. Hopkins had an encouraging start to his career, starting all three games and hitting .286 (2-for-7) with one RBI.

On the mound, the Gamecocks bullpen was stellar throughout the weekend as 10 different relievers combined to blank Albany in 11 innings of work, striking out 13 batters while allowing only four singles and four walks.

“Our pitchers threw strikes, for the most part,” Holbrook said. “We had some power arms and some power stuff out there. It was good to see. We weren’t trying to trick people. We were going after them. Here, hit this fastball. It has been a while since we’ve done that.”

Sophomore RHP Tyler Johnson made two relief appearances and struck out four batters in two innings with just one hit allowed. He was the only Gamecock to make two appearances on the mound for the weekend.

“Our pitchers were outstanding all weekend long,” Holbrook said. “Tyler Johnson has been impressive in two appearances. All in all, it was a good weekend for us. We battled and competed at the plate. I couldn’t be more pleased with my team and how they played. We have some depth. But as I told my team after (Sunday’s) game, we can play a lot better. I’m not nitpicking. When all of our guys get going, we could be tough to handle.”

NOTES

-- JUCO transfer catcher John Jones enjoyed a great first weekend in the Gamecock uniform, hitting .600 (6-for-10) with a double, homer and nine RBI. His nine RBI is the highest three-game series RBI total since LB Dantzler drove in 10 runs vs. Albany in 2013. Jones also walked twice and scored four runs. His on-base percentage of the weekend was .667 with a 1.000 slugging mark. Five of Jones’ nine RBI came with two outs. Jones hit safely in all three games with three multi-RBI games as well. “It’s very comforting to be strong behind the plate,” Holbrook said.

-- Sophomore Alex Destino hit only .143 (2-14) with no extra base hits this past weekend, but Holbrook called Destino one of the Gamecocks’ best hitters and said he would stay in the lineup. “He will put up some numbers for us,” Holbrook said. “He is just one good weekend, one good game from breaking out. He’ll be fine.”

-- JUCO OF Dom Thompson-Williams had a stellar weekend as well at the plate in his debut. He hit .400 (4-for-10) with a homer, four RBI, four walks and four runs scored. Thompson-Williams finished with a .571 on-base percentage.

-- The Gamecocks hit .323 (31-for-96) for the weekend with a .446 on base percentage. They walked 16 times compared to 12 strikeouts and were hit by pitch seven times.

-- USC gets a busy week (5 games) underway Tuesday afternoon when it hosts Appalachian State at Founders Parks. Freshman RHP Adam Hill will make his first career start for USC. Hill is a native of Anderson and was a 2015 MLB draft pick by the San Diego Padres (39th round). “I am anxious to give him the ball because I feel good about the way he is throwing,” Holbrook said. “I’m sure he wants to get out there. He has worked extremely hard and has been throwing the ball extremely well.”

-- Herald football prospect Brandon McIlwain made his Gamecock debut over the weekend and went 0-for-3 at the plate, coming to the plate once in each game.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Feb. 19 – Albany, W 10-1

Feb. 20 – Albany, W, 6-2

Feb. 21 – Albany, W, 8-1

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:

Tuesday – Appalachian State, 4 p.m.

Wednesday – Winthrop, 4 p.m.

Friday – Penn State, 4 p.m.

Saturday – Penn State, 2 p.m.

Sunday – Penn State, 1:30 p.m.