Overall Record: 51-6
Finished: 2nd at College World Series
In similar fashion to this year's College World Series club, the first South Carolina team to reach Omaha earned their way with an emphasis on quality pitching. The 1975 edition of the Gamecocks featured a four-man pitching rotation that accounted for 49 of the team's 51 wins.
National player of the year runner-up and All-American pitcher Earl Bass lead the way, winning seventeen games with an impressive 1.40 ERA. Greg Ward (13) and Tim Lewis (11) reached double digits in wins while Raymond Lavigne was unbeaten with an 8-0 mark. Lewis and Lavigne recorded back-to-back no-hit games and the Gamecocks finished with a team ERA of 2.00.
But the Gamecocks also had some punch at the plate. All-American first baseman Hank Small batted .390 with 19 home runs. South Carolina batted .297 as a team and stole 142 bases that year.
After losing just four regular-season games, South Carolina hosted regional play and swept The Citadel, Temple and N.C. State to clinch the program's first trip to Omaha. The Gamecocks were unbeaten in their first three games at the CWS, defeating Seton Hall 3-1, Eastern Michigan 5-1 and Arizona State 6-3.
South Carolina was beaten in the next round by Texas 17-6 and had to face the Sun Devils in an elimination game. The Gamecocks defeated Arizona State 4-1 behind a complete game performance from Lewis to advance to the title game against Texas. However, South Carolina's first trip to Omaha would not end with a championship as the Longhorns defeated the Gamecocks 5-1.
Finished: 2nd at College World Series
In similar fashion to this year's College World Series club, the first South Carolina team to reach Omaha earned their way with an emphasis on quality pitching. The 1975 edition of the Gamecocks featured a four-man pitching rotation that accounted for 49 of the team's 51 wins.
National player of the year runner-up and All-American pitcher Earl Bass lead the way, winning seventeen games with an impressive 1.40 ERA. Greg Ward (13) and Tim Lewis (11) reached double digits in wins while Raymond Lavigne was unbeaten with an 8-0 mark. Lewis and Lavigne recorded back-to-back no-hit games and the Gamecocks finished with a team ERA of 2.00.
But the Gamecocks also had some punch at the plate. All-American first baseman Hank Small batted .390 with 19 home runs. South Carolina batted .297 as a team and stole 142 bases that year.
After losing just four regular-season games, South Carolina hosted regional play and swept The Citadel, Temple and N.C. State to clinch the program's first trip to Omaha. The Gamecocks were unbeaten in their first three games at the CWS, defeating Seton Hall 3-1, Eastern Michigan 5-1 and Arizona State 6-3.
South Carolina was beaten in the next round by Texas 17-6 and had to face the Sun Devils in an elimination game. The Gamecocks defeated Arizona State 4-1 behind a complete game performance from Lewis to advance to the title game against Texas. However, South Carolina's first trip to Omaha would not end with a championship as the Longhorns defeated the Gamecocks 5-1.
Leave a comment