It's been a rough season on the diamond in Columbia, to say the least. Less than two months into the regular season, head coach Paul Mainieri resigned, and interim head coach Monte Lee took over.
Things didn't exactly improve with the coaching change. Entering the final week of the regular season, the Gamecocks are 22-30 on the year, with a 7-20 mark in SEC play. Following South Carolina getting swept by Alabama over the weekend, the Gamecocks reached yet another historic low—30 losses.
South Carolina had never had a season in program history with 30 losses. 2025's finish, which saw the Gamecocks go 28-29 was the previous worst finish. South Carolina also is riding an eight-game losing streak, a feat that hasn't been done since 1961, when the Gamecocks finished 3-15 under head coach Joe Grugan.
South Carolina has a mid-week game against Winthrop before a three-game series on the road vs. Vanderbilt starting on Thursday evening. The Gamecocks will play in the SEC Tournament, scheduled to start May 19.
Worst finishes in South Carolina baseball history
South Carolina hasn't had a ton of seasons finishing below-.500 or close to it. In fact, since the 1970's, the Gamecocks have never had a decade with a losing record. Here's a look at some of the worst finishes in South Carolina baseball history, dating back to 1950.
- 1951: 6-15-0
- 1953: 8-11-0, Ted Petoskey
- 1958: 7-14-0
- 1960: 4-18-0
- 1961: 3-15-0
- 1963: 7-14-0, Joe Grugan
- 1969: 12-21-1, Jack Powers
- 1970: 14-20-0, Bobby Richardson
- 1996: 25-28-0, June Raines
- 2019: 28-28-0
- 2022: 27-28-0, Mark Kingston
- 2025: 28-29-0, Paul Mainieri
- 2026: 22-30-0, Paul Manieri, Monte Lee
Records and coaches via South Carolina media guide.
The good news: A new hire is coming
Sure, this season isn't one that will live in the best record books for Gamecock fans. But keep in mind that South Carolina has yet to name a head coach just yet, so brighter days are ahead. While there are a number of candidates that South Carolina athletic director Jeremiah Donati should consider, South Carolina is a great opportunity for whoever that may be.
The Gamecocks have a storied history, featuring two College World Series titles, 11 CWS appearances and countless other NCAA tournament appearances. South Carolina has proven it can win big with the right head coach. With the resources that the Gamecocks have, South Carolina will be back to its winning ways in no time. Donati knows that with the right hire who can recruit and coach well, things will get better in Columbia in no time
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