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South Carolina gets production from old, new in Opening Day win

On3 imageby:Collyn Taylor•02/18/22•

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Matt Hogan (Photo by Katie Dugan)

South Carolina’s Wes Sweatt hadn’t been in a high leverage situation in almost three years, but it would be hard to tell Friday night.

Coming in with the game-tying run at first and the Gamecocks one out away from a win, Sweatt pumped three pitches in and got out of the jam with a groundout to secure a 9-7 South Carolina win on opening day over UNC Greensboro.

For the Gamecocks (1-0), it’s one win in the books but for Sweatt it could be something bigger.

“That was huge. That was huge for him and huge for us. He threw some big pitches there,” Mark Kingston said. “With the injuries, we’ve gone through we need guys to step up. I thought that was a big night for Sweatt both for his confidence, our confidence and his teammate’s confidence.”

The Gamecocks entered the ninth likely not needing Sweatt, though.

South Carolina had put up runs in bunches early and again late, building a 9-3 lead with just one inning to go.

They did it on the back of a bevy of newcomers with some experienced guys getting in the mix as well.

Freshman shortstop Michael Braswell looked good, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, but the debut of the day went to Vanderbilt transfer Matt Hogan.

Hogan—a fourth-year player making his first career start— looked electric in his Gamecock debut, finishing with two run-plating hits. He’d launch a solo home run in his first at-bat and a triple to help spark a three-run eighth inning.

“That was awesome. That was one of the best moments of my life right there by far. I was so excited to come to the field, play, do what I love with guys around me I love so much,” Hogan said. I was overcome with emotions all day.”

Speaking before the season Kingston said he wanted to see someone take centerfield and run with it. While it’s just one game, there’s a lot to like from Hogan and his left-handed bat.

One game does not a career make but he got his opportunity tonight and did what you wanted to see. He’s like Braswell. He loves to play. He brings an energy and brings an enthusiasm. The more guys we can have like that the better.”

But it was the entire offense that showed signs of progress. Paced once again by Andrew Eyster’s three-hit day that included a home run, the Gamecocks scored nine runs on 13 hits.

But the bigger numbers were just four strikeouts and six of the Gamecocks’ nine runs came on two-strike swings.

The home runs aren’t going away—South Carolina hit three—but they got a run on Hogan’s triple, another on a Brandt Belk sacrifice fly, and one more on an RBI groundout from Braylen Wimmer.

“It’s not sexy stuff but it’s what you got to do to win ball games,” Eyster said. “I think it’s something you’re going to see a lot from us: situational baseball, situational hitting, getting the job done.”

South Carolina got what it needed to as well from its ace Will Sanders, who stitched together a five-inning performance where he allowed just one run on three hits with three punch-outs and no walks.

After a first inning where he gave up the homer and a single, Sanders put just one runner on in his final four innings and retired seven straight to end his outing.

“I wouldn’t call it dominant for him yet. It’s not to the point where it’s dominant Will Sanders yet,” Kingston said. “For the most part, he was in command. Five innings, three hits, no walks? That’s what you want out of your Friday guy.”

The Gamecocks aren’t a finished product by any stretch through one game. But they showed flashes and—despite Cade Austin struggling in the ninth—Kingston likes where things stand.

“I think if you look at everything as a whole we did really well outside of Cade just struggling tonight,” he said. “That was his first outing in Division-I baseball. He’ll bounce back. But every other category I thought we were really good tonight.”

Next up for the Gamecocks is a potential series-clinching game Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m. South Carolina will start James Hicks.

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