Idle Gamecocks move into first place; Postponed USC-LSU SEC series now a twinbill Friday and single game Saturday

COLUMBIA — It’s still a mega-SEC baseball series with a classic opening pitching match-up, but it will start a little later than scheduled. The first game of the three-game South Carolina-LSU series originally set for Thursday was postponed.

The No. 4 Gamecocks and No. 9 Tigers will play a split doubleheader Friday, at 2:30 p.m. (no television) and 7 p.m. (Cox Sports Television in Lousiana). Game 3 on Saturday is still set for 1 p.m. (ESPNU).

Tickets for Thursday night’s game will be honored at the Friday afternoon game with the Friday night game a separate ticket.

The Gamecocks while idle Thursday night moved percentage points into first-place in the SEC East. South Carolina is 38-13 overall and 17-9 in the SEC. Kentucky lost the first game in a three-game series at Mississippi State, 3-1, to fall to 41-13 overall and 18-10 in the SEC.

LSU is 40-13 overall and 17-10 in the SEC and clinched first place in the SEC West Thursday night with Vanderbilt’s 3-0 victory over Ole Miss.

Scheduled Game 1 pitcheres are two of the best in college baseball: South Carolina senior right-hander Michael Roth (5-0, 2.60 earned run average) and LSU sophomore right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-1, 2.95 ERA).

The SEC does not want the teams to play on Sunday with the SEC tournament set to start in Hoover, Ala., on Tuesday.

CSU-Coastal
Thursday’s series opener between Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern was postponed due to inclement weather.

The two teams will play a doubleheader today, with Game 1 starting at 11:30 a.m. Game 2 will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.