Recap: Gamecocks take field for first fall scrimmage
South Carolina was back on the diamond Friday to start fall scrimmages as the Mark Kingston era officially began in Columbia.
The Gamecocks played eight innings in the inaugural scrimmage of the fall with the more veteran-laden team coming out on top 5-0 thanks to a three-run homer from Hunter Taylor.
Taylor took second-year player Rian Haire deep in the seventh inning to give his team some breathing room after the team scored a run in the sixth inning and another before Taylor’s blast in the seventh.
The other team was held at bay by returning weekend and midweek starter Cody Morris, junior college transfers Eddy Demurias and Hunter Lomas and true freshman Corey Stone.
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The four combined to pitch eight shutout innings, giving up three total hits and striking out two.
A few players tried out different positions with LT Tolbert playing the middle infield and then third base. Jacob Olson started in right field but also played shortstop later in the game.
Noah Campbell also played the middle infield while fellow true freshman Jordan Holladay started as a designated hitter and played first base.
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In total, 10 newcomers played in the team’s first scrimmage: true freshman Campbell, Kyle Jacobsen, Mason Streater, Ian Jenkins, Holladay, Elijah Bowers, Carmen Mlodzinski and McLendon Sears while junior college pitchers Demurias and Lomas pitched.
Scrimmages continue Saturday at 12:30 p.m., which gives fans plenty of time to make it over to Williams-Brice for the Gamecocks’ home football opener against Kentucky. The scrimmages are free and open to the public.
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Starting lineups
Team 1
2B, Noah Campbell; CF, Kyle Jacobsen; LF, Carlos Cortes; SS, LT Tolbert; C, Chris Cullen; 1B, Matt Williams; 3B, Mason Streater; RF, Ian Jenkins; DH, Jordan Holladay; DH, Elijah Bowers; DH, Christian Flint; SP, Carmen Mlodzinski
Team 2
CF, TJ Hopkins; SS, Madison Stokes; RF, Jacob Olson; 3B, Jonah Bride; 1B, Riley Hogan; 2B, Justin Row; C, Hunter Taylor; CF, Danny Blair; DH, Chase DeMars; DH, McLendon Sears; DH, Jake Wright; SP, Cody Morris
Pitching lines
Team 1
Carmen Mlodzinski: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
TJ Shook: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Colby Lee: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (ER), 3 BB, 0 K
Rian Haire: 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
Team 2
Cody Morris: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Eddy Demurias: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hunter Lomas: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, HP
Corey Stone: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Top offensive performances
Hunter Taylor: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI; Justin Row: 2-3, R, RBI