Updates to Campbell, Cullen entering Clemson
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS BASEBALL
Mark Kingston said two of the Gamecocks' biggest pieces of the lineup should be fine and will more than likely be ready to go this weekend against Clemson.
Kingston said both Noah Campbell and Chris Cullen are on the mend after back injuries limited their play earlier in the week with Campbell a little further along than Cullen heading into Friday's game.
"They should be fine. Noah is 100 percent. he'll be ready to go Friday," Kingston said. "I'd say Chris isn't there yet but he'll be a game-time decision. We're pretty confident."
Also see: Notes on the Gamecocks NET ranking, NCAA tourney odds
Campbell injured his back over the weekend running the bases and sat out Tuesday's win over Appalachian State. Coming into his second series against Clemson, he should be ready to go after being held out for what Kingston called primarily precautionary reasons this week.
Before Tuesday Campbell had started every game at second base and was slashing .250/.333/.563 hitting leadoff. He had homered in three straight games before Tuesday and has seven RBI already this year.
Cullen started Tuesday's game but was pulled in the third inning after his first at bat when a lingering back injury flared up again.
He was taken out and sat the rest of the game but the staff feels good about his chances to play this weekend.
Cullen's slashing .235/.381/.824 this year with three homers and seven RBI as well. If he does play this weekend, it will be at first base.
Also see: Who does Zacch Pickens remind T-Rob of?
“As the senior, as the guy that does a nice job there around the bag, I think deserves the right to get that opportunity," Kingston said. "The home run obviously helps that, but his defense has been really, really good. He gives us a veteran presence. We have so many new players playing right now, it’s nice to have a veteran presence on the infield to try and keep a steady ship.”
Cullen came into school as a catcher but has started the last four games at first base as a senior, thriving in his new role with three of his four hits this season coming when he's played first base.
He also hasn't made an error this year in six starts with 54 putouts and two assists.
“Playing first base has been comfortable for me. I haven’t practiced over there too much but I go out there and have some fun playing it," he said. "I play relaxed when I'm out there.as for finally connecting on one, that feels great all the time. I put a good a swing on the ball and good results happen for me."
Also see: Scoop on a few newcomers from spring practice
The Gamecocks (7-1) take a seven-game win streak into the series with Clemson (7-1) with the first game up in Clemson starting at 6 p.m. Friday. They'll play at Fluor Field in Greenville Saturday at 1 p.m. before Sunday's series finale in Columbia at noon.
Against a Clemson team that has allowed just a 3.00 ERA through eight games, a bat like Cullen's bat that's surging at the moment.
“It feels great. There’s definitely satisfaction when you put together a pretty good weekend, but I’m not going to look too far into what happened this weekend or what happened last weekend," Cullen said over the weekend. "I’m going to keep preparing, keep building my confidence and hopefully keep putting good swings on the ball.”