Holbrook talks pitching as Gamecocks enter double-elimination bracket
USC head coach Chad Holbrook knew he was going to be without starters Wil Crowe and Adam Hill for Tuesday’s elimination game against Vanderbilt.
Tyler Johnson picked the team up in the 7-4 win over Vandy, pitching a season-high 4.1 innings and striking out a season-high eight batters.
Now the bullpen will have to string it together for one more game against one of the SEC’s best offenses in Kentucky, before the Gamecocks (33-23, 14-17 SEC) can get back into their pitching rotation.
“Maybe we can mix it up two or three innings at a time here and keep ‘em off balance and maybe all the guys we throw out there tomorrow will throw good,” Holbrook said. “You have to against that team.”
Also see: What's the latest on Stephon Wynn?
Crowe, who was bumped up a day in his preparation for his last two starts against Georgia , is unavailable to start Wednesday against the Wildcats. Over his last two outings, he’s thrown 232 pitches over 13.2 innings.
The junior will, Holbrook said, be available Thursday “for sure.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to him,” Holbrook said of starting Crowe Wednesday. “We try to take care of our pitchers and he’s coming off Tommy John and we’re not going to do that to him with the future he has. We’re just going to try and mix and match it and go with what we can.”
Also see: In-depth report on the 2017 baseball class
South Carolina’s freshest options are Cody Morris, Colie Bowers and John Parke. Morris hasn’t pitched in a week with his last start coming last Tuesday. Parke last pitched Thursday with Bowers getting 2.2 innings Saturday.
Reed Scott and Tyler Johnson, both of whom threw over 70 pitches Tuesday, are likely out for a few days treating their arms.
Holbrook didn’t rule out a quick comeback for reliever Josh Reagan, who threw 48 pitches in 3.1 innings against the Commodores. Regardless, it’ll be a frenzy trying to get the pitching staff ready to go as the Gamecocks head into their next two games at the SEC Tournament.
“Reagan we might could turn in a day or two. We’re going to get them in the pool, get them in the Jacuzzi. There’s no tomorrow,” Holbrook said. “They’re going to have to recover a little faster than we make them recover during the season.”