Palmetto State Baseball team of the week, April 30-May 6: South Carolina

South Carolina (2-1 for the week )
(went 2-1 vs. No. 4 Mississippi)

After a 1-5 start to Southeastern Conference play it appeared the Gamecocks would be hard-pressed to win 10 league games, much less qualify for the SEC Tournament.

By winning seven of its last nine conference games, USC is in contention for one of the four first-round tournament byes. It's the first time Carolina has won three consecutive league series since 2012.

Winning two of three vs. Mississippi improved the Gamecocks' league record to 13-11, putting them in a three-way tie for fourth place overall with the Rebels and LSU. By virture of winning both head-to-head series with those teams, Carolina would get a first-round bye if the standings end as they are today.

Perhaps more importantly, they need to win two of their final six SEC games to be assured of a .500 record. That wouldn't clinch a bid to the NCAA Tournament, but the track record for SEC teams with .500 records making the NCAAs has been good.

The Gamecocks meet College of Charleston and former coach Chad Holbrook at Columbia's Spirit Communications Park on Wednesday, then play host to Missouri next weekend.

Also considered (record for week)
College of Charleston (2-1)
Florence-Darlington Tech (2-0) - reached NJCAA Region 10 championship game
North Greenville (2-2) - won Conference Carolinas Tournament
The Citadel (2-1)
USC Aiken (2-0)
USC Lancaster (2-1)
Wofford (2-2)

Previous winners
Jan. 26-Feb. 4: Florence-Darlington Tech
Feb. 5-12: Southern Wesleyan
Feb. 13-18: Coastal Carolina
Feb. 19-25: Clemson

Feb. 26-March 4: College of Charleston
March 5-11: USC Salkehatchie
March 12-18: Morris
March 19-25: North Greenville
March 26-April 1: South Carolina
April 2-8: Furman

April 9-15: Florence-Darlington Tech
April 16-22: North Greenville
April 23-29: Clemson