Back at Founders Park for game two of the Georgia series, a game the Gamecocks sorely need now after last night's 14-10 loss in the series opener. They especially need some length from their starting pitcher, with Eli Jones starting on the mound. Here's how the lineuip looks for the middle game of the series:

Austin Brinling - CF
Ethan Petry - 1B
Blake Jackson - RF
Cole Messina - C
Parker Noland - 2B
Kennedy Jones - LF
Dalton Reeves - DH
Gavin Casas - 3B
Talmadge LeCroy - SS

Eli Jones - Pitcher

Checking in from Founders Park for the last home series of the regular season....and in all liklihood the last home gmaes period if the Gamecocks can't figure out a way to win the series. Critical series against Georgia, a battle of top-15 teams right on the bubble for hosting a regional right now. First pitch is at 8 p.m. on ESPN2, and here's how Mark Kingston lines up the Gamecocks:

Austin Brinling - CF
Ethan Petry - 1B
Blake Jackson - RF
Cole Messina - C
Parker Noland - 2B
Kennedy Jones - LF
Dalton Reeves - DH
Talmadge LeCroy - SS
Gavin Casas - 3B

Roman Kimball - Pitcher

a number of years just to get to the middle of the league in SEC Football. I honestly don't think he could have done more harm to the program if he had been trying. I mean this statement I'm making is something all of us already know but gosh it is astounding the amount of harm Muschamp did to Gamecock Football.

I wish UGA or Clemson would hire him.

12-11 SEC record. Game 3 tomorrow.

Hearing from Mark Kingston, Dalton Reeves and Garrett Gainey to preview a key weekend series against Georgia. Updates to follow.

I saw a couple of strays this week. My little Yorkie ate one. (She really liked it too.) This morning here in Greenwood I stepped out and heard the "flying saucer" sounds going. They're coming out now.

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Checking in from The Winthrop Ballpark for South Carolina baseball’s final midweek of the 2024 season. Gamecocks taking on Winthrop, who they run-ruled at Founders Park in February. Here’s Mark Kingston’s lineup:

Austin Brinling - CF
Ethan Petry - 1B
Blake Jackson - RF
Cole Messina - DH
Parker Noland - 2B
Kennedy Jones - LF
Dalton Reeves - C
Talmadge LeCroy - SS
Gavin Casas - 3B

Tyler Pitzer - Pitcher

1997 63–5 25–1 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Women's College World Series

1997 was softballs best year will we ever see years like this again? The oldest softball program in the SEC and at times its embarrassing to watch them play.

A few notes:

Seven SEC teams are in the Top 25 including four of the Top 5. Vandy and Alabama dropped out. Clemson came in at #2. As it stands right now, Carolina will play 14 games against top 5 opponents. Right now Carolina is 4-7, three of those losses came by one run.

Carolina has seven games remaining and six are against teams ranked in Top 15.

The Carolinas have seven ranked teams. #2 Clemson, #6 ECU, #9 Duke, #11 UNC, #12 Wake, #13 SC, #23 NC St.

The Gamecocks are #13 in the RPI which would put squarely in as a regional host. 5-2 with series wins over UGA and Tenn would put them in strongly in National Seed discussion. UGA is 5 and Tenn is 8 in the RPI.

It's been an issue across the county of teams cancelling midweek games late in the season for RPI reasons. Carolina's last non-conference opponent, Winthrop is 233. Meanwhile, Wofford is 79, Upstate 91, Campbell 81, App 71, UNC Greensboro 58, Charleston 54, UNCW 41, and Coastal 32. I think it's probably time to drop the home and home with Winthrop and get a game with a more competitive opponent in the Carolinas.

Carolina can gain nothing from Tuesday's game in Rock Hill. A win will likely still drop the RPI and loss would knock it down spots easy maybe more.

Both are opening/opened up NCAA Tournament play this weekend. The Men defeated Old Dominion 4-1 and will play the winner of 15 seed NC State and UNCW tomorrow at 5:00pm.

The women also open with Old Dominion. That match is tomorrow at 11:00am with the winner playing the winner of 15 seed NC State (not a typo) and SC State at 2:00pm on Sunday.

We'll keep you posted on the results.

Another day, and another chance for South Carolina to win an SEC series. Game two of South Carolina's series at Missouri starts at 4 p.m., and after a 10-2 win last night, Mark Kingston is rolling with the same nine in the lineup, albeit in a slightly different order. Eli Jones is on the mound looking for a bounceback start after a rough outing last week. Here's how the Gamecocks will line up:

Austin Brinling - CF
Ethan Petry - 1B
Parker Noland - 2B
Cole Messina - C
Gavin Casas - 3B
Kennedy Jones - LF
Dalton Reeves - DH
Talmadge LeCroy - SS
Blake Jackson - RF

Eli Jones - Pitcher

Not out in the other Columbia, but checking in for remote coverage of game one for South Carolina baseball at Missouri. Another series the Gamecocks really need to win to stay in position to host a regional. Mark Kingston sticks with the all-offense lineup which has scored 38 runs in the last three games, which looks like this:

Austin Brinling - CF
Ethan Petry - 1B
Parker Noland - 2B
Cole Messina - C
Blake Jackson - RF
Kennedy Jones - LF
Dalton Reeves - DH
Talmadge LeCroy - SS
Gavin Casas - 3B

Roman Kimball - Pitcher

#32 pick. He'll be joining former Gamecocks Jaycee Horn and JD Clowney, who signed a 2 year $24M offseason contract with the Panthers.

Spencer Rattler is hoping to get picked in the second/third round today.

Might should’ve stayed another year….

OUCH

Live updates from Founders Park as South Carolina prepares for its last home midweek of the season.

It’s a tricky one, taking on an East Tennessee State team pushing the top 50 in RPI.

First pitch at 6:30. Live updates to follow.