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South Carolina finishes off Salute the Troops Weekend with win over Air Force

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South Carolina finishes off Salute the Troops Weekend with win over Air Force


Off the bat, it looked like a flyout to right field, and perhaps on most days, it would have been. But not with the wind blowing out, and certainly not with South Carolina’s hottest hitter at the plate.

With winds gusting to around 16 miles per hour, Will Craddock’s fly ball turned into something more. It kept carrying as Air Force right fielder Brooks Burdine drifted back to the wall, looking confused about what had just happened.

“I can pretty much judge when a ball is going to be gone or not, after being as old as I am and seeing so many balls hit through the years,” head coach Paul Mainieri said. “But I thought Will crushed it, and he told me, ‘When I hit it, there was no doubt it was gone.’ We were fortunate it went out.”

Instead, the seemingly routine flyout turned into a leadoff home run for Craddock, who has now accomplished that feat in back-to-back games. It helped get the Gamecocks off to another good start in a 4-2 win over Air Force to wrap up Salute the Troops Weekend on Sunday.

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Craddock’s first week of college baseball couldn’t have gone much better as the freshman first baseman went 8-for-15 (.533) with two homers and six RBI. He finished 2-for-4 with a solo shot and a double in the weekend finale.

The Gamecocks (6-2) didn’t have their best day at the plate, but they did enough early to create some breathing room. They broke out for three more runs in the second inning, starting with an RBI single by Beau Hollins, who went 2-for-2 and reached base in his three plate appearances.

Luke Yuhasz later grounded out to third base with no outs to bring home Hollins. After another base hit for Craddock, Patrick Evans laced an RBI double down the left-field line.

“I really attribute it to outstanding relief pitching by (Air Force),” Mainieri said on the lack of run scoring after a fast start. “They had really good relievers, and we had really good relievers, and the conditions were really difficult to hit in. So there wasn’t much scoring after his first couple innings. I just thought our bullpen just did a tremendous job, and we did just enough to win. So it was a gritty, hard-fought win for us.”

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Brandon Stone didn’t give the Gamecocks much length in his second start of the year, largely because of a 34-pitch first inning. As a result, the right-hander lasted only three innings, allowing one run while striking out five and walking two. But the bullpen did its job in picking him up.

Logan Prisco gave up one run in 1.1 innings of work and walked one over 35 pitches. Zach Russell allowed one hit and struck out two over 1.2 innings. Russell picked up his second win of the year and hasn’t given up a run in any of his three appearances so far this year.

“I’d say just attacking the zone, getting ahead,” Russell said on what’s worked best for him. “It’s a problem I kind of had last year. Just walks, not getting ahead. I’ve been throwing a new cutter that’s been working pretty good.”

Alex Valentin went the final three innings and picked up his second save of the year. He struck out three while allowing only one hit.

The left-hander has proven capable of pitching well in relief, but Mainieri isn’t entirely sure how the Gamecocks will use him moving forward, whether that means keeping him in the bullpen or shifting him into a different role.

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“Alex is fearless. I mean, he’s got talent,” Mainieri said. “He throws up to 94 miles an hour left-handed, and he’s got a good slider and a good change-up, but the biggest thing of all is he’s fearless. … He thinks he can do anything out there, and I love that about him. He’s a great competitor, throws a lot of strikes. What’s not to like? I think he’s outstanding. I think he could handle any role we give him.”

Up next: South Carolina will host Queens on Wednesday evening at Founders Park. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.



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Fanatics Sportsbook promo code NYPOST: Bet $5, get $200 FanCash for USC vs. South Carolina

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Fanatics Sportsbook promo code NYPOST: Bet , get 0 FanCash for USC vs. South Carolina


The Fanatics Sportsbook promo code NYPOST is offering new bettors even more reason to be locked in for March Madness: a generous welcome offer to bet $5 and get $200 FanCash when they sign up.

Bettors can use the Fanatics sportsbook promo code NYPOST for 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament games, including Monday’s second-round game between USC and South Carolina.

Fanatics Sportsbook promo code NYPOST for USC vs. South Carolina

New users who sign up at Fanatics sportsbook with promo code NYPOST can get $200 in FanCash instantly after they place their first $5 bet with Fanatics Sportsbook. That first wager can be placed on USC vs. South Carolina or any of the games on the schedule this week.

In addition to that offer, Fanatics sportsbook promo code NYPOST is also giving new users the chance to take advantage of another offer: Get up to $1,000 matched in FanCash.

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FanCash can be used to place bets at Fanatics sportsbook, buy Fanatics apparel at their online store, or even to purchase collectibles.

Users can sign up and get in on the promotion in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming.

How to sign up for Fanatics sportsbook

  1. Select your bonus offer.
  2. Choose your state.
  3. Fill out your login details.
  4. Enter the Fanatics sportsbook promo code NYPOST.
  5. Make a deposit.

What our Post expert thinks about USC vs. South Carolina

The Trojans pulled out a thrilling 71-67 victory over Clemson to move onto the second round thanks to 53 points fro Jazzy Davidson and Kara Dunn.

The Gamecocks sent a message to the field that they’ve come to play after beating Southern 103-34 in Round 1. That win made an impression on bookmakers, who set this line for this game at South Carolina -22.5.


New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, OH, PA, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $5+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $200 in FanCash. Promotional FanCash expires 7 days from issuance (at 11:59pm ET). Terms, including FanCash terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.


Why Trust New York Post Betting

Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.

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USC and South Carolina face off in Women’s March Madness. Which is the real SC?

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USC and South Carolina face off in Women’s March Madness. Which is the real SC?


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COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament features a Monday night game between the USC Trojans and the USC Gamecocks, raising the question: Who is the real USC?

Ella Sather and Alyssia Hamilton, reporting for USA TODAY Sports Network, posed the question to the players from top-seeded South Carolina and No. 9 seed Southern California. The answers were somewhat expected but also … enlightening.

One Trojan said, “Honestly, before this, I’ve never heard anybody call South Carolina USC,” while a Gamecock delivered this bit of possible bulletin-board material: “I actually didn’t know they were a school until I got to college.”

These players are likely to know each other pretty well after the second-round game, which we predict USC will win.



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South Carolina tops Allen 5-3 at North Charleston Coliseum; qualifying for Playoffs

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South Carolina tops Allen 5-3 at North Charleston Coliseum; qualifying for Playoffs


On the verge of clinching a ticket to the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the South Carolina Stingrays faced off against the Allen Americans Saturday at the North Charleston Coliseum, cheered on by 5,430 fans.

For the second straight night the Rays scored early, with forward Anthony Rinaldi sending home a goal giving the Stingrays a 1-0 lead only 3:14 into the period.

Over ten minutes later the Stingrays doubled their advantage thanks to Kyler Kupka who knocked home a center goal fed by Dean Loukus on the power play.

South Carolina was ahead 2-0 with 4 minutes left in the first, however Allen Americans player Danny Katic scored a quick goal making it 2-1 at the end of the first. Allen seemed to gain momentum after that goal with Harrison Blaisdell tying the game early in the second with a shorthanded goal.

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Now with the two-goal lead buffer gone the Rays were searching for a break in Allen’s defenses.

READ MORE | Stingrays sign forward Casey McDonald after four-year college career at LIU

Yet again one of the newest team acquisitions delivered as Rays player Rinaldi tucked home an odd-man chance just over five minutes into the second period pushing South Carolina back in front, 3-2.

The Allen American’s goalie Marco Costantini was peppered with shots from the rays throughout the second, as they worked to regain a larger edge. Costantini blocked 17 shots on goal in the second period and both teams moved to the third maintaining a 3-2 score.

Over seven minutes into the third period Kupka punched home his second goal of the night, building South Carolina’s lead back to 4-2. The Americans responded quickly however, when forward Michael Gildon made a score with 8:19 left in regulation.

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Heading into the final minutes of the game with only a one-goal cushion, the Stingrays earned a much needed insurance goal at the hands of Casey McDonald.

Though the Americans pulled their goalie to bring out an extra player with 2:32 left, they ended up scoring only one goal, unable to totally cover the two goal lead that the Stingrays had continually built up.

With this victory, the Stingrays have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the 30th time in 33 seasons. South Carolina has points in 15 of its last 16 games, and have 24 wins at home this season, second most in the ECHL.

The Stingrays will return to the North Charleston Coliseum on March 22nd, against the Allen Americans for Pucks and Paws Day presented by Washes and Wags Pet Grooming at 3:05 p.m.



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