15 Things: Duke Elimination Game
Leading off
--Saturday’s game was South Carolina’s second elimination game in four games. The Gamecocks are 1-1 in those games (loss was against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament).
--Josh Reagan got out of another bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, getting a strikeout, groundout and pop out. It’s the second time he’s done that all season, the first being April 10 in the ninth inning against Tennessee.
--Hunter Taylor got the start over John Jones at catcher because Jones was late to pregame meal. Head coach Chad Holbrook said the coaches are “picky” about being on time and players don’t play if they are late. Taylor responded with the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning.
--After starting in left Friday, TJ Hopkins was in center against Duke. Dom Thompson-Williams, who was in center Friday, moved to left.
--Braden Webb left Saturday’s game in the fourth inning after walking a batter and starting another 3-0. After the game, Holbrook said the starter has a sore foot, but that had no bearing on him being pulled. He said Webb should be fine.
On deck
Josh Reagan on getting out of a bases-loaded jam: “Throw strikes. That’s the name of the game. Obviously it was an important situation in the game with bases loaded, no outs. But you have to make pitches regardless of the situation. That’s what I did.”
Dom Thompson-Williams on pressure of an elimination game: “There’s always pressure knowing you may not play the rest of the season. I like the team we have and if the chips fall where they may, I like our chances.”
Chad Holbrook on Josh Reagan: “He can throw his off-speed pitches for strikes, which is big in those situations. He’s a cool customer. I love giving him the ball in those type of situations.”
Holbrook on Friday’s ejection: “Y’all saw what happened: I got thrown out of the game. I felt like it was a good time to go.”
Holbrook on opting to bunt Destino: “He’s one of our better bunters in practice. I saw his first two at-bats and he was swinging at balls that weren’t even close. Ain’t no doubt in my mind the bunt was the right call. And he popped it up…It’s a great play when it works and when it doesn’t, it’s my fault.”
Hitting Cleanup
--Reagan threw 58 pitches Saturday, bringing his total this weekend to 65. Normally, Holbrook said he’d be done for the weekend but won’t rule out Reagan pitching since there “is no tomorrow.” Holbrook also didn’t rule out Braden Webb returning to the mound if the Gamecocks get to Monday’s winner-take-all game.
--Tyler Johnson came in with two outs in the eighth and got the final four outs of the game, striking out two batters. He earned his second win of the season after Hunter Taylor’s RBI put the Gamecocks ahead in the ninth inning.
--Hunter Taylor’s hit in the ninth was his first since April 16 against Georgia. It was his first RBI since March 16.
--Reagan’s 4.2 innings pitched tied a season long for the junior reliever.
--Gene Cone went 2-for-3, marking his 18th multi-hit game this season.
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