Notes & Quotes: USC-Penn St. Game 3

NOTES

--Relievers Reed Scott and Josh Reagan combined to pitch 4.1 scoreless innings, only giving up one hit while striking out three.

--Reagan gave up his first hit of the season in the ninth inning on a leadoff single. He had pitched a perfect 2.2 innings in two appearances so far. Reagan also earned his second save of the season.

--The first three hitters in the Gamecock lineup combined to go 5-for-10 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. The rest of the lineup went 3-for-20 with two walks and an RBI. They also accounted for all four of the team’s strikeouts.

--Designated hitter John Jones went 8-for-8 over the weekend with six walks, finishing with a OPS of 1.000. It’s the best OPS of any Gamecock hitter with a minimum of 14 at-bats since at least 1997.

--After starting the team’s first seven games, Marcus Mooney sat out Sunday’s game due to hamstring tenderness. Mooney has had hamstring problems in the past and Holbrook said sitting him was “precautionary.” He also said if Sunday had been a league game, Mooney would have played.

--Taylor Widener gave up seven hits Sunday, the most given up by a Gamecocks pitcher all season. His 4.2 innings pitched is the second-shortest outing by a starter this season behind Canaan Croppers’ four innings Wednesday.

--After sitting out Saturday’s game, Chris Cullen started at catcher where he extended his hitting streak to five games. He’s had a hit in every game he’s played in this season. He also caught two runners stealing in back-to-back innings.

--DC Arendas went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored Sunday after starting the season 2-for-14.

--The Gamecocks committed one error all game, a fielding error by Alex Destino on a throw from LT Tolbert. It is the fourth straight game the team has committed an error.

--South Carolina is 8-0 for the fifth time in the last 10 seasons and the second time under head coach Chad Holbrook.

--South Carolina travels to Charleston on Tuesday to play the Citadel. Holbrook said he expects freshman right-hander Adam Hill to start. The early forecast for Tuesday is 70 degrees, partly cloudy with no chance of rain.

QUOTES

Arendas on his two hits: “We wanted to attack early in the zone…For me, I just wanted to get a fastball early in the count and put a good swing on it.”

Arendas on Jones’s weekend: “A whole weekend of not getting out, that doesn’t happen often. I’m not sure if John plays video games, but he may not have done that in a video game.”

Jones on his big weekend: “I guess it feels good. Succeeding feels good, but it’s over now. I’ll enjoy it later with my team then move on and get ready for the next game.”

Holbrook on Taylor Widener’s outing: “That was just one outing. I thought Taylor was very sharp last week. He may not have been as sharp today, but I think at the end of the day the location on his fastball was got him in some of the trouble he got in.”

Holbrook on the bullpen today: “They were almost flawless in a tight game. So that was good to see.”

Holbrook on Arendas: “He’s got the respect of every guy in our locker room. He plays such great defense and is as steady an influence on our team. He’s just a guy who can help you win. He certainly makes our team more formidable when he swings the bat.”

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