South Carolina Streaks to National Prominence

The South Carolina Gamecocks seem comfortable as the nation’s top college baseball team. They just keep winning.

The Gamecocks entered this weekend’s series against Southeastern Conference-rival Georgia on a 17-game winning streak, and have been ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN polls the past two weeks.

South Carolina (42-4) had never been ranked No. 1, and the last top-ranked Gamecocks team was the men’s soccer team in November 1994.

“For the last six or eight weeks we’ve had a bull’s-eye on our chest, and now it’s got neon lights,” said coach Ray Tanner, who recently received a contract extension.

The only blemishes this season have been losses to Florida (17-8), Louisiana State (8-6 and 7-6) and Elon (7-5)--all in March.

The Gamecocks, who began the season with a 22-game winning streak, are closing in on the best record in school history. The 1975 team went 51-6-1 and finished second in the College World Series.

South Carolina hasn’t played in the College World Series since 1985, but it certainly has the pitching staff needed to get back.

Kip Bouknight, who leads the nation in victories (12-0, 2.41 ERA), Peter Bauer (8-0, 3.01) and Scott Barber (6-1, 1.90, 10 saves) head a staff whose 3.12 ERA is tied for third in the country.

The team’s 8-1 record in one-run games, including two victories in extra innings, has also been a key in the team’s success. The Gamecocks were 35-23 last year, but 10-10 in one-run games.

“The big difference in any college baseball season comes down to four or five games--those close ones,” Tanner said. “We’ve had the ability to win a lot of the close ones this year.”

HITTING MACHINE: No records are safe around Stanford’s John Gall.

The senior entered a weekend series against California as the Cardinal’s career leader in batting average (.364), hits (337), RBIs (241) and doubles (69).

He was also on a career-high 16-game hitting streak and needed one hit to break former Arizona star Chip Hale’s Pac-10 career mark.

“I take a lot of pride in those things, but because we’re playing all the time I can’t really think too much about it right now,” said Gall, hitting .366 with seven homers and 49 RBIs. “I’ll be able to step back and appreciate it a little more once the season’s over.”

Described by coach Mark Marquess as “one of those young men that can flat-out hit,” Gall is always confident at the plate.

“I don’t think I ever feel overmatched,” he said. “I always feel that when I step into the box, I’m going to get a hit.”

With 42 homers, Gall probably won’t catch Paul Carey’s school record of 56. But the Cardinal third baseman has his sights set on another record.

His 69 doubles put him within six of the Pac-10 mark shared by Washington State’s Mike Kinkade, Arizona State’s Andrew Beinbrink and Gall’s cousin, Eric Byrnes of UCLA.

“That’s one I’d like to get,” Gall said. “It would make Thanksgiving a little more fun.”

Although regarded as one of college baseball’s top hitters, Gall wasn’t selected until the 50th round of the June draft last year by Cleveland, even after hitting .337 with 12 homers and 70 RBIs.

“I felt like I had a chip on my shoulder, something to prove,” he said. “Before last season, I had a lot of positive exposure, but then I had some struggles and people questioned me. I felt I had to prove myself again.”

STILL SCORING: The Shockers and shutouts don’t mix.

Wichita State (29-13) entered this weekend having gone 307 games without being shut out, the longest active streak in Division I. Arizona State was next with 300.

The NCAA record is 349, set by Coastal Carolina from April 16, 1983-April 10, 1989.

The Shockers, last shut out at Arkansas 5-0 on March 13, 1996, have been held to one run twice this season. Wichita State also rallied to score three times in the top of the sixth in their 3-2 seven-inning victory over Illinois State on April 15.

SWEET SACRIFICES: Unselfishness is breeding success for the Texas Longhorns.

Texas (35-11) began its weekend series against Texas A&M; with 97 sacrifices through 46 games, 17 short of the NCAA record set by Pepperdine in 59 games in 1997.

“The players have been willing to do what it takes to get on base, advance runners and score runners,” coach Augie Garrido said. “It’s all about teamwork.”

Shortstop Todd West, a junior college transfer from Yavapai College, leads the team with 25 sacrifices, an NCAA single-season record. West broke the mark of 23 set by Miami’s Jose Trujillo in 1987.

AROUND THE HORN: Arkansas, at 17-27 in danger of its first losing season since 1975 (20-22), lost to Georgia 15-5 last Sunday to extend its school-record SEC losing streak to 17. The 27 overall losses tie the school record set in 1994, when the Razorbacks went 31-27. . . .Auburn reliever Colter Bean broke Gregg Olson’s school record last Saturday against Vanderbilt with his 98th career pitching appearance. . . . Houston senior left-hander Shane Nance got his 28th career victory to break Doug Drabek’s school record. . . .Cal State-Fullerton junior right-hander Matt Sorenson was 5-0 this season, giving him a 17-0 career record--the best start for a Titans pitcher.