South Carolina vs. Northwestern: Weekend Preview

2020 is off to a cracking start for the South Carolina Gamecocks, who carry a sterling 4-0 record into their second weekend of play against Northwestern. The Gamecocks are coming off a season-opening sweep of Holy Cross — their first since 2016! I can’t stop thinking about that! — which they followed up with a midweek battering of Presbyterian.

Northwestern (1-3) chose to start its season in challenging fashion, facing perennial power Arizona in Omaha for a neutral site series and coming away with just one victory (7-2 in the finale). The Wildcats didn’t crack the top six in the Big Ten’s preseason baseball poll (which uh, is where their rankings stop for whatever reason), but shortshop Shawn Goosenberg and catcher Michael Trautwein did earn preseason honors.

The Gamecocks will send usual Friday starter Carmen Mlodzinski (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 IP, 3 SO) to the mound this afternoon, where he will oppose righty Mike Doherty (5-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 4 SO). Saturday, South Carolina starts Brett Kerry (1-0, 5.40 ERA, 5 IP, 12 SO) against southpaw Quinn Lavelle (0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 1 SO), and Brannon Jordan (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 9 SO) gets the ball on Sunday opposite right-hander Tyler Uberstine (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 5 SO).

South Carolina leads the all-time series 7-5, but the teams haven’t faced each other since 1995, when the Wildcats won 13-5.

Game 1: Friday, 4 p.m.

Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m.

Game 3: Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

Watch: All three games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

Listen: All three games can be heard on 107.5 The Game.