By: Morgan Weaver
The Gamecocks kicked off baseball season with a series sweep over Virginia Military Institute. They won their fourteenth straight opening day game with several players hitting the field in a garnet and black jersey for the first time.
Eleven different South Carolina pitchers saw action including junior right-handler Ethan Carter, who returned to the mound as a Gamecock for the first time since 2010.
"It was nice getting back out there," Carter said."I told a couple of guys in the lock room it felt good just putting the jersey back on."
Cater relieved Matt Price in the second game on Saturday. He allowed just two hits, while striking out six of the thirteen batters he faced in four innings.
Starting Gamecock pitchers, senior left-hander Michael Roth, junior right-hander Matt Price, and junior right-hander Colby Holmes, combined for 36 strikeouts and just four walks allowed in 27 innings pitched along with a 1.33 ERA.
Head Coach Ray Tanner said there were some things the team could have done differently, but he's happy to start the season with three wins.
"Two of them certainly could have gone a different way for us. I'm very impressed we were able to stay in there and win," said Tanner. "I think that the first couple of games we weren't getting into our counts quick enough. We weren't being aggressive enough. Maybe our guys were a little bit cautious. But you have to give VMI some credit. I thought those guys were pretty good."
The Gamecock pitchers were not the only players making solid debuts this season. Freshmen Greyson Greiner, Kyle Martin, Tanner English, and TJ Costen were strong offensively, tallying one home run, seven RBI's, and nine runs for the weekend.
"There's no lack of confidence from those guys at all," said Junior first baseman Christian Walker.
Junior college transfer LB Dantzler also made a strong contribution this weekend at third base.
"I'm just taking it one bat at a time and just looking to do whatever the team needs," said Dantzler. "It's awesome we started off three and 0 that's huge."
Dantzler made his big debut in the bottom of the eighth in the first game. He hit a game-winning RBI that brought junior outfielder Evan Marzilli home to beat VMI 2-1. He followed that up with a three run homer, a double, and four RBI's in the third game to help defeat VMI 13-1.
Tanner said he hopes the team continues to do well and get better as they go through the season.
