Local kid Matthew Becker excited for Friday night start against rival Clemson Tigers, says teams "equally don't like each other"
South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri has had to make a change in his starting rotation for this weekend’s series against the rival Clemson Tigers. Last weekend, Friday night starter Dylan Eskew tweaked his upper back, and while he might be available for the Palmetto State’s biggest baseball rivalry, he won’t pitch in the series’ opening game. Instead, senior lefty Matthew Becker will toe the rubber.
Mainieri and pitching coach Terry Rooney let him know that the move was possible last weekend. Becker says that he feels prepared and that sophomore Jake McCoy is ready to fill his shoes on Saturday, too. The newly-minted Friday night starter is excited for the opportunity.
Win tickets to USC-Clemson baseball (Sunday game in Columbia)
A Chapin native, Becker is a local product who grew up as a fan of the Gamecocks. Now, he will get the opportunity to ruin his biggest rival’s weekend. Though he said there is respect for Clemson in the South Carolina locker room, Becker admitted to the media on Wednesday that the rivalry is “the best in the country” and that “both teams equally don’t like each other.”
Becker, now in his fourth year with the Gamecocks, has pitched against the Tigers each season he has been in garnet and black. However, Friday will mark his first start in the rivalry series.
Becker believes that Clemson is very talented. However, he also believes that if he performs like he’s capable, South Carolina can come out on top on Friday. “They’re a good team. I think it’s not really preparing for them, it’s more preparing myself to go out there to compete at the level I know I can.” That doesn’t mean that USC won’t have a plan in place for the Tigers, however. Becker added, “I really trust what Coach Rooney has been doing with the scouting reports.”
Top 10
- 1New
NCAA Tournament
Latest on expansion
- 2
DEs shine at NFL Combine
SEC speed on display
- 3
Beer Can
OU releases statement about fan
- 4
Gene Hackman
Hoosiers star found dead with wife, dog
- 5Hot
Bracketology
Another shakeup before March
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Get USC Gamecocks app notifications
So far this season, Becker has been rock solid for South Carolina. Used as a Saturday starter up to this point, he has logged just four total base runners allowed and two runs through 11.1 innings pitched. He picked up wins against both Sacred Heart and Milwaukee in his two starts. Becker also owns a ridiculous 17-0 K-BB ratio.
South Carolina and Clemson will begin the annual rivalry tilt on Friday night in Clemson with Becker’s start. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra on the ESPN app.
Game two will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Greenville’s Fluor Field. Jake McCoy will start the game, and SEC Network+ will stream the contest.
The series finale will start at 5:00 p.m. at Founders Park in Columbia. While Sunday’s starting pitcher has not been announced, Mainieri has said that Eskew would pitch if things went well for him in his recovery. SEC Network+ also will stream the final game of the series.
