USC, Clemson, Coastal Carolina and Manhattan all practiced at Carolina Stadium Thursday in preparation for this weekend’s Columbia NCAA Regional. Clemson will open up play Friday at noon against Coastal. The Gamecocks will play Manhattan at 4 p.m.
South Carolina freshman catcher Grayson Greiner sustained a lateral meniscus tear to his left knee during practice on Wednesday afternoon at Carolina Stadium. Greiner will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Thursday with Dr. Chris Mazoué with USC Sports Medicine. He will miss the 2012 Columbia Regional.
On day two of SEC spring meetings, coaches and athletic directors met to decide the future scheduling formats for the new 14-team league.
The University of Florida announced Wednesday afternoon former Gamecock forward Damontre Harris will become a Gator. USC announced the rising junior was exploring a transfer a few weeks after Frank Martin took over for the fired Darrin Horn as the new Gamecock Head Basketball Coach. Harris will have to sit out the upcoming season but will have two more years of eligibility starting the 2013-14 season.
Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and Michael Bourn also went deep Tuesday night, leading the Braves to a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, snapping an eight-game losing streak — Atlanta’s longest in more than two years.
Former Clemson standout defensive end signed his first NFL contract Tuesday. The four year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars is worth a reported $5.1 million. Branch was the team’s second-round draft pick, taken 38th overall.
Clemson will have its largest Hall of Fame induction class in history this fall when 10 former athletes are inducted. The class includes former baseball coach Bill Wilhelm, who has also been inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame and the State of South Carolina Hall of Fame within the last two years. The induction ceremonies will take place the weekend of Clemson’s home football game with Georgia Tech, October 5-6.
South Carolina senior pitcher Michael Roth was named SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and junior first baseman Christian Walker earned first-team All-SEC honors, as the league announced its annual baseball honors on Tuesday.
Second seeded South Carolina scored five runs in the first five innings and behind senior left-hander Michael Roth and junior right-hander Matt Price on the mound, the Gamecocks held on for a 5-3 win over 10th seeded Auburn on Thursday evening at the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament.
Branden Cogswell walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, and Virginia rallied to beat Clemson 3-2 in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament.
