Raleigh, NC Welcomes University of South Carolina Baseball Team for NCAA Tournament Play
The University of South Carolina baseball team is set to open NCAA Tournament play in the Raleigh Regional, facing James Madison on Friday, May 31 at Doak Field at Dail Park on the campus of North Carolina State, it was announced Monday afternoon (May 27). The Gamecocks are the second seed in the Raleigh Regional and will face the Dukes for the first time since the 2008 Raleigh Regional, which was a 7-5 Carolina win.
Exciting Matchups Await
James Madison enters the tournament with a 34-23 record and a 17-13 mark in Sun Belt play. The Dukes are led offensively by Fenwick Trimble’s impressive .371 batting average and Brendan O’Donnell’s 16 home runs. On the mound, Donovan Burke has been a standout performer with six wins and 61 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.
North Carolina State, as the host, will take on Bryant in the opening game. The Wolfpack, seeded No. 10 overall, boast a 33-20 record and an 18-11 ACC mark. Alec Makarewicz leads NC State with a stellar .376 batting average and 19 home runs. Their pitching ace, Ryan Marohn, has a 4-2 record with a 3.60 ERA.
Bryant, with a 36-19 overall record and a 17-7 standing in America East play, clinched their spot by winning the America East Conference tournament. Gavin Noriega shines with a .338 batting average and 18 home runs, while Luke Delongchamps holds a 5-2 record on the mound with a 2.76 ERA.
Strong Showing for the SEC
The Southeastern Conference received 11 bids to the NCAA Tournament, setting a new record for the league. The Raleigh Regional is matched up with the Athens Regional, with the winners advancing to the Super Regional round next week.
Fans Get Ready
All Session Books for the tournament will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, May 28th at 5 PM. Single session tickets, if available, will be on sale on Wednesday, May 29th at 10 AM. Prices range from $15.00 to $120.00 per ticket.