Notes and Quotes: USC-Penn State Game 2
Notes and quotes from Saturday's 16-5 victory over Penn State at Founders Park.
• Alex Destino’s replacement at first base, freshman LT Tolbert had another solid outing, going 2-6 with a run scored. He’s seen action at first, second and designated hitter this season and Saturday played the ninth inning at shortstop. He’s done well at the plate, going 8-25 with three RBIs and six runs, good numbers for player whose primary strength is versatility.
• Freshman pitcher Braden Webb struggled to get guys out in the middle innings, throwing 85 pitches in just five innings of work, but gave up only two unearned runs and three hits. The three hits allowed ties a season-high for a Gamecock starting pitcher matching Clarke Schmidt’s total from the season opener. Gamecock starters have combined to post a 0.79 ERA with 12 hits and 40 strikeouts in 34 innings of work.
• Jonah Bride, Dom Thompson-Williams and Marcus Mooney all reached base safely in Saturday’s game. All three have reached base at least once in all seven games this season.
• Senior D.C. Arendas finally picked up his first hit of the season after going 0 for his first 11. Arendas recorded two hits and two runs on Saturday. The second baseman has played well defensively this season, but has yet to get going at the plate. His sixth inning single found a hole in the right side of the infield, since the first baseman was holding the runner at first. He then had a sharp single up the middle in the seventh.
• Catcher John Jones continued his torrid start to the season. A day after going 4-4 with a walk, Jones went 1-1 with four walks. The Nittany Lions pitched around the junior college transfer before he took a first-pitch fastball deep to right field for a grand slam, his first as a Gamecock. The sixth inning blast raised Jones’ average to a team-best .542 and gives him 17 RBIs on the season, tops on the team. He’s reached base in all 10 plate appearances this series.
• Shortstop Marcus Mooney has had a shaky start defensively, recording his third and fourth errors on the season in the third inning, leading to Penn State’s first two runs. So far this season, the Gamecocks have committed eight errors in seven games, leading to five unearned runs, compared to only nine earned runs. A season ago, the Gamecocks committed 61 errors that led to 41 unearned runs, or 14.7 percent of the total runs allowed. So far this season, 35.7 percent of runs surrendered by the Gamecocks have been unearned.
• Every starter scored a run for the Gamecocks, led by Bride and Jones with three apiece. • The Gamecocks scored more runs Saturday (16) than they’ve given up in their first seven games combined (14).
Quotes
“It’s hard to pitch around me when you’ve got Alex Destino with seven RBIs behind you.” — John Jones on whether Penn State was too cautious
“That was kinda emotion for myself and for the team … Seeing the team and hearing them go wild behind me, that just gets me pumped up. I was excited.” — Alex Destino on the grand slam
“I feel great, I feel excited, I wanna go back out there and play tomorrow and as much as I can try to do what I did today.” — Destino on breaking his slump.
Whatever (bullpen) coach (Jerry) Meyers wants, I’m gonna give it to him.” — Destino on pitching
“I felt my offspeed was better today after working in the bullpen this week.” — Braden Webb on the command of his curveball
“I’ve got 13 or 14 guys and there’s not much separation, I think you guys can see that.” — Head coach Chad Holbrook on his lineup
“He’s gotta be more aggressive and swing, he gets a little bit picky … He’s got a good swing and he’s got some strength, he’s just gotta get the bat off his shoulder. He did that today, and that was good to see.” — Holbrook on Arendas
“Danny (Blair’s) gonna be a good player for us … He’s certainly a very athletic kid who puts the ball in play for the most part, and when his does he puts a lot of pressure on the defense, cause he can run.” — Holbrook on Danny Blair’s speed
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