South Carolina baseball: Gamecocks host fourth-ranked Bulldogs

South Carolina baseball welcomes #4 Mississippi State to town.

The South Carolina baseball team is hoping to get back into the win column this weekend after dropping their last two SEC series. Mark Kingston’s group is 26-15 on the year, with an 11-10 mark in conference action. A series victory would go a long way in regards to postseason positioning as the Gamecocks push for the chance to host a regional.

South Carolina fell off the No.1 seed line in the latest NCAA Tournament projections following a sweep at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels, but a solid performance versus the fourth-ranked Bulldogs would get them right back into contention.

Mississippi State currently stands at 33-10 (14-7) on the year, winning five of its seven conference series. They’ve won with a pitching staff that leads the conference in strikeouts, and ranks second in both ERA and opposing batting average. That could cause troubles for a South Carolina offense that struggles to put the ball in play. The Gamecocks have struck out 389 times as a team, third most in the league, and are only hitting .255 on the season.

The lack of offensive production led coach Mark Kingston to make some adjustments in the lineup, most notably, moving leadoff man Brady Allen back to the three-hole. Allen has been the most consistent hitter on the roster, and hopefully the change will lead to a boost in scoring. Kingston also mixed up the starting rotation, moving Friday night starter Thomas Farr to the Sunday slot. Brannon Jordan will now start in his first SEC opener of the year.

Series History

The Gamecocks and Bulldogs have met 74 times on the diamond, nearly splitting the previous matchups. South Carolina leads the all-time series 39-35, though Mississippi State took the last series in 2019.

Players to Watch

Brannon Jordan

Jordan has been South Carolina’s best pitcher in conference play, boasting a 3.38 ERA and 3-2 record. He also ranks third in the league in opposing batting average, holding hitters to a .155 rate. Jordan is getting his first opportunity to start an SEC opener, where the Gamecocks are just 1-6 on the year. He’ll look to buck that trend this weekend.

Braylen Wimmer

Wimmer could be the Gamecocks’ new leadoff hitter with Brady Allen moving to the three-hole. Wimmer leads the SEC with 13 doubles, and is hitting .284 on the season. He notched his eighth home run of the year earlier this week, and will look to set the table for the Gamecocks this series.

Will Bednar

Bednar leads the Bulldog rotation with a 3.14 ERA. He’s struck out 53 batters in SEC play, also pacing the team, and will try to get Mississippi State in the win column on Saturday.

Tanner Allen

Allen paces the team with a .360 batting average, adding seven home runs and 40 RBIs. In conference play, that number has actually increased to .373, as the senior leads the SEC in total bases against league foes.

Game Info

Friday’s first pitch is set for 7 PM ET.

• SC Brannon Jordan (4-3, 3.42 ERA) vs. MS Christian MacLeod (3-3, 3.49 ERA)

Saturday’s game is set for 4 PM ET.

• SC Will Sanders (6-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. MS Will Bednar (4-1, 3.14 ERA)

Sunday’s matchup will begin at 2 PM ET

• SC Thomas Farr (2-5, 3.67 ERA) vs. MS Jackson Fristoe (3-3, 4.97 ERA)