South Carolina baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more

South Carolina endured a difficult NCAA baseball season this year. The Gamecocks finished the Southeastern Conference regular season with a 13-17 conference record, tied with four other teams. However, a run to the semifinals in the SEC Tournament helped them make the postseason for the second season in a row thanks to an at-large bid.

The Gamecocks were the second seed in the Raleigh Regional and saw their season come to an end following successive losses to the hosts, the NC State Wolfpack and the James Madison Dukes. They finished the season with a 37-25 record.

The 2024 season was Mark Kingston's last as the coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Soon after their season ended, the Gamecocks fired coach Mark Kingston and shocked the nation by replacing him with former LSU Tigers coach Paul Mainieri, who retired after the 2021 season.

Six Gamecocks stars earned selections in the 2024 MLB draft, while some others entered the transfer portal. In response, the Gamecocks have made some solid additions to their roster during the offseason.

Here, let's preview South Carolina baseball ahead of the 2025 NCAA baseball season.

3 key games for South Carolina Baseball in the 2025 season

#3, Florida Gators

The expansion of the SEC sees the Gators as one of the Gamecocks' permanent opponents for the 2025 season. Kevin O'Sullivan's team enjoyed a memorable 2024 season, reaching the College World Series as the only unseeded team in Omaha.

The Gators are expected to be one of the strongest teams in 2025 and are likely to pose a major threat to the Gamecocks' ambitions to get back to the top.

#2, Clemson Tigers

The Gamecocks and the Tigers have one of the fiercest rivalries in college baseball. While the teams are in different conferences, a series between them is an annual college baseball tradition that is likely to continue into 2025.

Mainieri will hope to get one over Erik Bakich in his first season back in NCAA baseball, which would certainly help him win over the Gamecocks faithful.

#1, LSU Tigers

While the Tigers were far from their best in 2024, their aggressive recruitment drive this offseason makes them one of the favorites to win the College World Series next year.

Mainieri's long history with the Tigers, Jay Johnson's ambitions and both teams' desire to win make this one of the must-see clashes in the 2025 season.

Key players for the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2025

#3, Nolan Nawrocki, INF

The Gamecocks picked up Nawrocki from the transfer portal during the offseason. After taking a redshirt in the 2023 season, he recorded four home runs and 24 RBIs with an average of .264 in 36 games for the Clemson Tigers this year.

While the Gamecocks have a wealth of experience, Nawrocki's experience with the Tigers can be a useful addition to Mainieri's roster in 2025.

#2, Tyler Pitzer, RHP

Pitzer was one of the Gamecocks' best freshmen in the 2024 season. He finished 4-1 while recording 57 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.74 in 43.2 innings.

With the Gamecocks losing pitchers like Garrett Gainey in this year's draft, Pitzer would be expected to take on a bigger role in the 2025 season.

#1, Ethan Petry, OF

Petry dazzled at the plate in his sophomore season for the Gamecocks this year. He tied Gamecocks star Cole Messina in home runs (31) and finished only behind him in RBIs (53) and batting average (.306).

With the Colorado Rockies selecting Messina in the third round of this year's draft, Petry will look to lead the Gamecocks' hitting line-up in 2025 and look to improve his chances of scoring big in next year's MLB draft.

Predicting South Carolina Gamecocks' 2025 season

Mainieri's hiring saw the Gamecocks send out a strong signal of intent to all their DI opponents. They should produce a decent regular season in the SEC despite the competition and are likely to make the postseason through an at-large bid.

However, the lack of depth in their bullpen could see them fail to go beyond the NCAA regionals given the stiff competition they would face in the field of 64.