Notes & Quotes: USC-USC Upstate

Notes and quotes from Tuesday night's USC vs. USC Upstate baseball game. The Gamecocks won 12-6.

NOTES

--Jonah Bride batted sixth in the order against the Spartans, making it the lowest he’sbatted in the order this season.

--Gene Cone hit leadoff for the third time this and the first time since March 8 againstWofford. HE finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

--Dom Thompson-Williams has reached base in all 18 games this season after a hit in thesecond inning.

--Chris Cullen batted seventh, the lowest he’s batted all season.

--LT Tolbert started at first base for the eighth time this season. He’s started the last seven games at that position.

--Alex Destino was moved to left field Tuesday. It’s the fifth time in six games he’s started there. He committed one error in the position.

--Matt Williams made his second start of the season. Both of his starts have been at second base. DC Arendas replaced him at second in the fifth inning.

--Alex Destino extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Thompson-Williams (7), Gene Cone (4), LT Tolbert (4), John Jones (3) also extended their hitting streaks.

--Announced attendance was 2,005.

--Brandon McIlwain did not travel with the team due to the start of football spring practice.

Also see: Gamecocks double up USC Upstate in Greenville

QUOTES

Holbrook on Alex Destino in left field: “He’s a work in progress. We got to get him out there and make sure he’s in the lineup on days Jones doesn’t catch. But he’s getting better everyday in practice and hopefully that’ll translate to a better performance in the game.”

LT Tolbert on his first career home run: “I was just excited to put our team back tied two-two. I don’t really think about the first career homer when it’s happening, but now that it’s over, it’s kind of cool.”

LT Tolbert on the offensive output: “We’ve been hitting really well, some things just haven’t fell for us. Our swings have been great but they haven’t fell for us. Hopefully we can take that momentum into Wednesday.”

Marcus Mooney on trash talking the big hitters after his home run: “Oh I was making fun of all of them. They didn’t have anything tonight, so I had to give it to them.”

Brandon Murray on his role in the bullpen: “Whatever they tell me to do, I can do whatever: come out of the pen, start, whatever I need to do. I want to be a guy that gets outs. My main goal is to get outs, do whatever I can do to help us win.”

Holbrook on LT Tolbert: “He’s just a baseball player and he plays a good first base. He’s kind of solidified us defensively at first: defensive plays, he does a good job of holding runners over there, had a couple nice plays."

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