Gamecocks Ready For Opening Day

By USC SID

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — The 124th season of South Carolina baseball begins on Friday as the Gamecocks host Albany for a three-game series. First pitch on Opening Day is 4 p.m. at Founders Park with Saturday’s game at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale at 1:30 p.m.

Midweek contests follow on Tuesday vs. Appalachian State and Wednesday vs. Winthrop. Both those contests are at 4 p.m. as well.

All five games will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network.

A NEW NAME

Founders Federal Credit Union and the University of South Carolina announced a partnership awarding naming rights of Carolina Stadium to Founders Federal Credit Union. Carolina Stadium officially became Founders Park on October 22, 2015.

Unveiled in 2009, the $35-plus million facility has a capacity of 8,242 fans and is the crown jewel among baseball stadiums across the nations. South Carolina has ranked among the top three in the nation in total attendance in five consecutive years, including a mark of 250,057 last season as well as a season-high 6,049 season tickets sold last year.

Founders Park will be officially dedicated on Saturday, April 23 before game two of the Missouri series.

PARKING INFORMATION

Please be aware on game day entrance via car to Williams, Catawba and Wheat Streets will be closed to the public and is accessible only by a valid parking pass.

For Opening Day on Feb. 19 and for the weekday games beginning at 4:00 PM (Feb.19; Feb. 23, Feb 24 and Feb. 26) parking in the business lots will be curtailed based on the specific parking lots. Patrons with passes to park in lots 6, 7, 9 and 10 will be relocated to Lot 1 on Williams and Wheat Sts.

We encourage visitors to use public parking lots illustrated on the parking map. The cost is $5/$10 per vehicle. Fans can also park for free at Capital City Baseball Stadium and the Colonial Life arena and ride the shuttles for $3.00 round trip to and from the parking lots. We strongly recommend that fans use the Capital City Shuttle over the CLA shuttle for the convenience, spacious parking and less congestion.

Visitors who need handicap parking should park at the Capital City Baseball Stadium lot and ride the handicapped shuttle to the baseball stadium for $3.00

PARKING SHUTTLE

For the 2016 baseball season, the baseball shuttle will be operational at the Capital City Baseball Stadium and in Lot D of the Colonial Life Area parking lot. We strongly recommend that fans use the baseball shuttle from Capital City to Founders Park over the CLA shuttle for the convenience, spacious parking (800 spaces) and less congestion than at the arena. Please remember that at the arena shuttle, parking will be limited to 50 to 100 spaces because of the student demand for parking in this area. There is a high student demand Monday through Thursday that lasts until 7 p.m. because of classes. For GPS purposes, the address for Capital City Stadium is 300 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201.

PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION

Friday
South Carolina – Clarke Schmidt (So. RHP)
Albany – Stephen Woods (Jr. RHP)

Saturday
South Carolina – Braden Webb (Fr. RHP)
Albany – Marcus Failing (Jr. LHP)

Sunday
South Carolina – Taylor Widener (Jr. RHP)
Albany – Ryan Stinar (Jr. RHP)

RANKINGS

South Carolina is ranked in three preseason publications. The Gamecocks are No. 17 by D1Baseball, No. 23 in the USA TODAY coaches poll and No. 35 by Collegiate Baseball.

SEASON OPENERS

South Carolina is 84-39 on Opening Day in school history.

SCHMIDT GETS THE OPENING DAY NOD

South Carolina sophomore right-hander Clarke Schmidt will get the ball on Opening Day for the Gamecocks. Schmidt made 18 appearances with 10 starts last year and went 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 58.0 innings. He struck out 55 and walked 20. He is rated the No. 40 best college prospect in the nation for the 2017 MLB Draft by D1Baseball.

Schmidt is the first right-hander since Blake Cooper in 2010 to draw the Opening Day start for the Gamecocks.

SERIES HISTORY

South Carolina is 3-0 vs. Albany in school history. The two schools met previously in 2013 in a three-game series in Columbia. The series featured a no-hitter for the Gamecocks in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 24, a 14-1 win. Colby Holmes, Forrest Koumas and Josh Knab combined for the no-hitter, the last time the Gamecocks have hurled a no-hitter. South Carolina won the other two contests 8-3 and 6-4.

RECRUITING CLASS RANKED NO. 2 IN THE NATION

South Carolina’s newcomers have been ranked the No. 2 recruiting class in the country by Collegiate Baseball. This year’s crop features eight players previously selected in the MLB Draft.