Tennessee
Jared Dickey — .352 BA, .422 OBP, 1.014 OPS, 12 HR, 20 XBH, 46 RBI
Griffin Merritt — .301 BA, .389 OBP, 1.088 OPS, 16 HR, 25 XBH, 42 RBI
Christian Moore — .309 BA, .463 OBP, 1.063 OPS, 13 HR, 22 XBH, 40 RBI
Zane Denton — .289 BA, .430 OBP, 1.020 OPS, 12 HR, 23 XBH, 48 RBI
Maui Ahuna — .320 BA, .439 OBP 1.014 OPS, 7 HR, 24 XBH, 36 RBI
South Carolina
Ethan Petry — .378 BA, .461 OBP, 1.222 OPS, 21 HR, 30 XBH, 68 RBI
Cole Messina — .317 BA, .433 OBP, 1.086 OPS, 16 HR, 34 XBH, 61 RBI
Gavin Casas — .264 BA, .422 OBP, 1.051 OPS, 19 HR, 27 XBH, 48 RBI
Braylen Wimmer — .291 BA, .406 OBP, .947 OPS, 11 HR, 20 XBH, 38 RBI
Talmadge LeCroy — .298 BA, .442 OBP, .889 OPS, 4 HR, 12 XBH, 33 RBI
Last Three Series
Tennessee
04/27 — 04/29 — Tennessee swept Mississippi State in Knoxville
05/05 — 05/07 — Georgia won two out of three over Tennessee in Athens
05/12 — 05/14 — Tennessee won two out of three over Kentucky in Knoxville
South Carolina
04/28 — 04/30 — Auburn won two out of three over South Carolina in Auburn
05/05 — 05/07 — Kentucky swept South Carolina in Lexington
05/12 — 05/14 — Arkansas won two out of three over South Carolina in Fayetteville
Prediction
Tennessee heads to South Carolina this weekend with plenty to play for. The Vols are all but a lock to make the NCAA Tournament but a series win could propel them into range to host a regional.
It feels like a long time ago when South Carolina swept Florida and climbed up to No. 3 in the country but injuries have plagued the Gamecocks since and South Carolina has yet to break out of its slump.
Still, Tennessee has yet to win a single road series this season and has just two true road wins the entire season. Combine that with Jared Dickey’s questionable status with a shoulder injury and I’m leaning towards the Gamecocks defending their home diamond.
This series feels like a toss up but with Tennessee’s road struggles I’m going to have to see road success to believe it.
Prediction: South Carolina wins two out of three
