USC Big NCAA Regional Favorite

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — This year’s Columbia NCAA regional tournament is college baseball’s version of David vs. Goliath. Actually, three Davids vs. Goliath. South Carolina (42-16) goes into this weekend an overwhelming favorite. The Gamecocks have a 27-game NCAA tournament home winning streak that dates back to 2002. During that time, USC has made six College World Series appearances and won two national championships. During that same period, none of the other three teams in this year’s Columbia regional, #2 seed Maryland (36-21), #3 seed Old Dominion (36-24) and #4 seed Campbell (40-19), has even qualified for the NCAA tournament. Friday the Terps, Monarchs and Camels will be playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time in a combined 71 years. Maryland’s last appearance was 1971. Old Dominion made the NCAA tourney in 2000. 1990 was Campbell’s last NCAA baseball berth. Old Dominion and Maryland get the Columbia regional going Friday at 1 p.m. USC hosts Campbell at 7 p.m. All of this weekend’s games will be broadcast on ESPN3. Click to watch a recap of Thursday’s preview press conference from Carolina Stadium. Comments are from USC coach Chad Holbrook, Maryland coach John Szefc, Old Dominion junior outfielder Josh Eldridge, Campbell coach Geoff Goff, USC junior third baseman Joey Pankake, USC junior catcher Grayson Greiner and Old Dominion coach Chris Finwood.