Check out a few quick questions with freshman left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery before this weekend's series! After solid outings earlier in the season, he earned his first SEC start last Saturday vs. Tennessee. Montgomery worked a career-high eight innings and limited Tennessee to just one run on three hits on the way to a 2-1 South Carolina victory over the Volunteers. Against a Tennessee team that was on an eight-game winning streak, Montgomery kept UT at bay with 12 batters retired at one point in the game. Montgomery did not walk a batter and tallied seven strikeouts. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance. On the season, Montgomery has a 2-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in seven appearances. The Sumter native has 27 strikeouts to just two walks in 30.0 innings pitched. Opponents are batting just .204 against him. He is set to start on the mound again this Saturday in game two of the series with Mississippi State.Q: How did you react when you learned you were going to have your first SEC start?
A: I was kind of nervous at first right when [the coaches] told me and then as the week went on I kind of understood that I just needed to go out there and pitch so I knew what I had to do.
You were one of the top pitchers in the state coming out of high school last year. What does it mean to you to be able to stay in-state and play at a top school so close to home?
That was one of the main reasons I came here, so my family could come and watch me when I was playing. ... Most of my family is in Sumter and my brother is about to move to Columbia, possibly, to be closer to his job. They come to most of the games but I have to divvy it up for the four tickets so somebody different comes to every game.
*Jordan later shared that his dad was actually a Clemson fan, though his two brothers both attended Carolina. His dad has given in to wearing a Gamecocks hat.
What are your expectations as the season progresses?
I'm going to try and keep getting people out and whatever it takes to win. I'll do whatever the coaches say, it doesn't matter to me.... It's good that they trust me and I'm just going to try and keep earning that trust more and more.
So far, what's your favorite place on campus?
Probably the Horseshoe. I just like all the big, old trees. It's nice.
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