The University of South Carolina baseball team began its 2026 season with a 2-1 record after a three-game home series against Northern Kentucky. The Gamecocks won both games of a doubleheader on Friday before dropping the final game of the series.
In Friday’s second game, KJ Scobey delivered a walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning to secure a 6-5 victory for South Carolina. This marked Scobey’s second consecutive walk-off hit for the team, following one last season against North Florida. He now has nine career home runs as a Gamecock.
Tyler Bak contributed significantly in the same game, hitting a two-run single in the seventh inning that gave South Carolina its first lead and later tying the score with another two-run single in the eighth. Over the weekend, Bak reached base six times and holds a .333 batting average after three games.
On Opening Day, Riley Goodman pitched 3.2 shutout innings and struck out five batters in South Carolina’s 5-2 win. The team extended its streak by winning its season opener for the seventh straight year and secured a series win for the 28th consecutive season.
Josh Gunther pitched 4.2 innings on Opening Day, recording seven strikeouts and just one walk to earn the victory. Relief pitcher Alex Valentin made two appearances during the weekend, striking out six over 4.1 innings without allowing any runs or more than two hits, earning him a save in his first outing.
Reese Moore nearly completed a cycle on Saturday against Northern Kentucky, finishing with three hits: a home run, single, and double. He currently leads the team with a .500 batting average and has posted a slugging percentage of 1.167 early in the season.
South Carolina is scheduled to play eight games over ten days as it continues its non-conference slate this week. The team will travel to Spartanburg to face Wofford at Fifth Third Park on Tuesday before returning home for four additional games, including matchups against Gardner-Webb and service academies Army, Navy, and Air Force as part of Salute to Service weekend.
