Preview: Schmidt questionable, Johnson out as Gamecocks head to Knoxville
WHAT: South Carolina (11-5) at Tennessee (12-2)
WHERE: Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
WHEN: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
RADIO/TV: Friday night's game is available on WISW 1320 AM. At the conclusion of the NCAA women's basketball game, it will air on 107.5 FM until 9:15 pm when the NCAA Tournament men's basketball game begins; Saturday's game will be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network, including 107.5 FM; Sunday's radio coverage is to be determined based on times of possible basketball games.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS:
Friday: USC So. RHP Adam Hill (0-2, 1.56 ERA, 17.1 IP,) vs. TEN Sr. RHP Hunter Martin (3-1, 3.68 ERA, 22.0 IP)
Saturday: USC RJr. RHP Wil Crowe (3-0, 2.25 ERA, 24.0 IP) vs. TEN Jr. LHP Zach Warren (2-1, 3.44 ERA, 18.1 IP)
Sunday: TBA vs. TEN So. RHP Will Neely (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP
Until earlier today, the main storyline of South Carolina’s weekend trip to Tennessee for the opening SEC series was Gamecock pitcher Wil Crowe’s return home as he grew up in nearby Sevierville and starred at Pigeon Forge High School.
But that all changed Thursday when USC announced Friday night starter Clarke Schmidt would not pitch on his normal day of the week because of a “minor oblique strain.” The Gamecocks left the door open, though, to Schmidt taking the mound on Sunday.
The Gamecocks are already missing closer Tyler Johnson, who will likely miss the series with a sore arm after missing last weekend’s brief two-game set against Michigan State. He is not expected to travel with the Gamecocks to Knoxville and could be sidelined until the trip to Auburn on March 31-April 2.
Johnson’s injury affects his forearm, USC head coach Chad Holbrook said.
“We’ll re-evaluate next week,” Holbrook said. “When I was informed of the diagnosis, I knew it was a two to four-week deal. We’ll see how he feels next week. Maybe we’re looking at the third week of SEC play. We’re going to be extremely careful with him. He could be a first round draft pick. We’re not going to push him back until he’s 100 percent.
“I couldn’t sleep if I tried to nudge him back (without being 100 percent). That’s not the right thing to do. Everything is structurally sound. The doctor just wants the soreness and tenderness to get out of there before he starts throwing. Once he does that, he needs a bullpen or two. Then we’ll see how he feels after that. We’re going to take a very conservative approach with him."
In addition, OF T.J. Hopkins is still hampered by a quad ailment that forced him to exit last Friday night’s game against Michigan State. Holbrook said Wednesday that he would decide Hopkins’ status on Thursday. The sophomore from Summerville could possibly be utilized in a pinch-hitting or DH role if he makes the trip to Knoxville
“I’m not counting on him being 100 percent for this weekend in any capacity,” Holbrook said.
We know one thing about the Gamecocks heading into Friday’s series opener - they are well rested. Cancellations Sunday (Game 3 v. Michigan State) and Tuesday (at Furman) means USC hasn’t played a game since last Saturday, when it clinched the home series against the Spartans.
“We’re a little banged up, but going on the road in this league is not the time to be banged up,” Holbrook said. “The first of 10 very difficult weekends is upon us. We are respectful of the challenges ahead of us.”
The six-day period between games means the pitchers not on the disabled list are well rested. Pitchers such as Cody Morris, Colie Bowers and freshman Colby Lee should be ready to go if called upon. Adding to the bullpen depth behind Reed Scott and Josh Reagan.
Morris threw well in a simulated scrimmage on Tuesday, Holbrook said.
“He is another arm we can certainly use,” Holbrook said. “He is getting confidence and experience under his belt. He is feeling good about himself right now. He is a guy we can use on the weekend if we need him.”
Saturday should be a special moment for Crowe, who will pitch close to home for the first - and perhaps only – time in his career. He suffered his elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery two weeks before the Gamecocks visited Knoxville in 2015.
“Wil is always amped up,” Holbrook said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. But I’m sure it’s going to be special for him to throw in Knoxville. We just need Wil to be Wil and not make more out of it than it is. It’s a start in SEC play, which I’m sure he’s plenty excited about. I know he’ll have a lot of people there that he knows. Hopefully, he’ll stay focused on what’s going on between the white lines. If he does, he’ll do fine.”
Tennessee senior second baseman Jeff Moberg has been on a tear at the plate with a .475 average (28-for-59) with 19 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, five homers and 14 RBI. He has a .537 on-base percentage and a .831 slugging mark.
Head into conference play, Moberg leads the SEC in batting average and slugging percentage and is second in on-base percentage. Vols senior third baseman Jordan Rodgers is right behind him with a .411 average (23-for-56) with three homers and a team-high 15 RBI. The Vols are third in the SEC in hitting with a team average of .326 (163-for-500).
“Tennessee is playing extremely well and they have some older guys,” Holbrook said. “Right now, Moberg is probably the conference Player of the Year, maybe the national Player of the Year. The way he is playing is going to create some issues for us. They’ve pitched well and are a very good team at home. We’re going to have our work cut out for us going up there not at full strength. It’s important to get off to a good start, but that’s challenging when you go on the road in this league.”
Adam Hill will be opposed by Tennessee senior RHP Hunter Martin, who owns a 3-1 record and 3.68 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 22.0 innings pitched.
NOTES
-- South Carolina is ranked in all six major collegiate rankings: No. 7 by Perfect Game, No. 8 by D1Baseball, No. 9 by the NCBWA, No. 10 by Baseball America, No. 12 in USA Today coaches poll and No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball. Tennessee has been ranked by two agencies, No. 24 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 30 by the NCBWA.
-- Matt Williams (team-high .413 BA) has reached base safely in 14 straight games and is tied for second on the team with four multi-hit games and three multi-RBI games.
-- The Gamecocks and Coastal Carolina are not scheduled to meet this season, but Holbrook said USC has “reached out” to the Chanticleers about playing a game in the wake of the two games Sunday and Tuesday postponed by inclement weather.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP:
C – Chris Cullen (.231)
1B – Matt Williams (.413)
2B – L.T. Tolbert (.289)
3B – Jonah Bride (.278)
SS – Madison Stokes (.218)
LF – Alex Destino (.298)
CF – Danny Blair (.231)
RF – Jacob Olson (.276)
DH – Carlos Cortes (.192)
SEC BASEBALL SCHEDULE (March 17-19)
South Carolina at Tennessee
Missouri at Alabama
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Florida at Auburn
Georgia at LSU
Kentucky at Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss
(All 3-game series)
GAMECOCKS 2017 SEC SCHEDULE:
March 17-19 at Tennessee
March 24-26 ALABAMA
March 31-April 2 at Auburn
April 6-8 VANDERBILT
April 14-16 MISSISSIPPI STATE
April 20-22 at Florida
April 28-30 KENTUCKY
May 5-7 at LSU
May 12-14 at Missouri
May 18-20 GEORGIA
May 23-28 SEC Tournament (at Hoover, Ala.)
