How The Emergence of Ethan Petry Has Elevated Gamecock Baseball
South Carolina Baseball is 27-3 halfway through their season, ranked #6 in the college baseball polls. The emergence of Ethan Petry has proven to be a vital aspect of Gamecock baseball, making the team all the more dangerous and their high national ranking well deserved.
Petry, primarily the Gamecocks' right fielder, has been an excellent defender on the season with a fielding percentage of .978, but what sets him apart from the competition is his tremendous batting ability. Petry leads the Gamecocks in most batting metrics, including batting average, OPS, and RBIs. His consistent and accurate swing doesn't only advance runners from base to base; his 13 home runs on the season prove he can score by himself–with any given at-bat.
The Freshman-phenom is also developing a growing reputation with the Gamecocks as a clutch game saver. March 26th, in the second game of a doubleheader vs. Missouri, the Gamecocks were down 4-2 in the eighth until Petry tied it up with a two-run shot which ultimately sent the game to extras. He electrified again in the bottom of the twelve, securing a Gamecock victory with a walk-off single. A few days ago on Saturday, South Carolina was looking to avenge a loss to Mississippi State but found themselves in an eight-inning tie. Ethan Petry took the lead with a deep left-center connection, clearing the bases and putting the game away for good. These performances are not the only cases of Petry's clutch gene. They contributed to multiple Gamecock victories and SEC Freshman of the Week honors, an award he's now won consecutively for three weeks.
If Ethan Petry isn't recognized nationally as one of the premier stars in college baseball, the college baseball world needs to pay more attention. The third baseman does everything necessary to keep scoring to a minimum, and his bat lights up the scoreboard in highlight-reel fashion. With the expectation of greatness, the Petry-led Gamecocks should be in great position to challenge the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers over the next three days.
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