Looking at the 2024 South Carolina Gamecock Baseball Season, it has been an interesting season to say the least.
The Gamecocks currently sit at 27-13 (9-9 SEC) and the #22 ranked team in the country. South Carolina has not yet lost back-to-back SEC series this year, yet they are 5th in the SEC East standings. Throughout all of the ups and downs so far this season, I believe the Gamecocks will be just fine and hosting a regional in June.
Let's start with the offense. Over the last few weeks, guys like Dalton Reeves, Lee Ellis, and Austin Brinling have seen more playing time, and have produced in their roles. Reeves, a transfer from PC, has made the most of his recent playing time, putting together a slash line of .289/.404/.632. This is a guy that saw action in only three games within the first month and a half of the season. Ellis and Brinling are guys that have within the last two weekends started seeing the field more, and producing when they get the opportunity.
Combine these guys with the power bats in the lineup like Ethan Petry, Cole Messina, and Talmadge LeCroy, this lineup will be scary to face down the homestretch of the season. I believe that the experience combined with the energy from the guys that have recently found playing time will be able to rejuvenate this offense and get them back to scoring runs like they were in the first month of the season.
Now let's talk about the pitching side of things for the Gamecocks. We know that Eli Jones is the solidified ace of the staff, the rest of the pitching has had their fair share of ups and downs. Mark Kingston has turned to a combination of Roman Kimball and Ty Good on Friday nights to try and lock down those series openers.
It was successful this past weekend, as they held Arkansas to two runs, but the offense could not get the job done for their pitching staff. I believe that this combo of pitchers on Fridays will continue to be successful and if they can find a way to hold down the fort on Sundays, this team will be right in the middle of hosting a regional in June.
The Gamecock's schedule does not do them any favors, as they host the #4 Kentucky Wildcats this weekend. In what is a pivotal weekend for South Carolina, I expect them to come out firing on all cylinders and get a huge series win and position themselves to finish the season off extremely strong.