Inside the change that helped Jack Mahoney pitch his best late
Jack Mahoney knew something had to change if he and the Gamecocks were going to have any chance of figuring things out down the stretch.
The last two weeks saw Mahoney pitch a combined 7.1 innings and gave up 10 earned runs in two lackluster starts against Auburn and Kentucky.
It was so inconsistent after a quality start to the year Mahoney’s name slid out of the starting rotation. The Gamecocks opted instead for a TBD designation heading to Arkansas.
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Three weeks later, Mahoney looks at that moment as the turning point for him that allowed things to click to end the regular season. Now, pitching his best ball of late, he gets the start while also pitching with a chance to send South Carolina to a regional final.
“I don’t think it was mechanical. I think it was mental. Coach Parker and coach Kingston challenged me before Arkansas. We weren’t sure what the rotation was going to be before that weekend. And I ran down to the pen in Arkansas,” Mahoney said.
“I woke up Saturday morning and they told me I was starting. Part of me took that as a challenge that I needed to start putting my best foot forward for all my guys. Especially in a time when we were in a rut.”
Mahoney didn’t find out he was starting until the morning of the game, responding with seven scoreless innings in a hostile environment at Baum-Walker.
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He struck out six, following it up the next week with six innings of one-run ball against a vaunted Tennessee lineup. Over his last 13 regular season innings Mahoney allowed one earned run on eight hits. He struck out 15 to just three walks.
His lone rougher outing came in the SEC Tournament when he was bumped up two days in his routine. Mahoney allowed three earned runs to a red-hot Texas A&M team.
That all combines for a 2.65 ERA in his final three starts with a 1.06 WHIP while striking out 17 to just five walks. Teams are hitting .217/.279/.317 against him over 60 at-bats.
“I looked myself in the mirror and said, ‘This is what you wanted. This is the time to step up for your team.’ Going out there with that mindset against two really good teams and knowing I got the stuff to beat ‘em,” Mahoney said. “ I’m just trying to put my best foot forward to try and win ballgames. Hopefully, we can continue that in the postseason.”
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He’ll get the ball again Saturday night in front of what should be a capacity crowd at Founders Park against North Carolina State.
A win and the Gamecocks advance to the regional final needing one more win to move on in the tournament.
It’s a quality Wolfpack lineup hitting .297 as a team going into the tournament with a handful of really good hitters.
“It’s awesome. He’s one of my best friends on the team,” said James Hicks about Mahoney. “He’s a guy I went all summer with rehabbing our arms together. I’ve watched him battle through illness and fatigue and he’s such a competitor. He’s someone everyone should learn from and be around.”
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Game details
Who: No. 15 South Carolina (40-19) vs. NC State (36-19)
When: Saturday, June 3 at 6 p.m.
Where: Founders Park (Capacity: 8,242)
How to watch/listen: ESPN Plus/107.5 FM and the Gamecock Radio Network
Probable pitchers
South Carolina: RHP Jack Mahoney (6-3, 4.01 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 25 BB, 74 K, 8 HR
NC State: RHP Matt Willadsen (5-4, 3.54 ERA), 76.1 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 26 BB, 79 K, 5 HR
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