RAIDERS SPLIT OPENING SERIES, SHOW RESILIENCE IN TWO WINS OVER USC UNION

JONESVILLE, S.C. — The Roane State Raiders opened the 2026 baseball season with a split of their four-game series against USC Union, securing two victories that highlighted their offensive potential and growing resilience under head coach Cam Hamsley.

The Raiders dropped the first and third games but responded emphatically in the other two, scoring 12 runs on 13 hits in a 12-4 win on Saturday and rallying for a 14-11 victory on Feb. 8 that featured 14 hits and multiple comebacks. Hamsley, in his assessment, saw the weekend as the typical first series blend of rust and promise as his team adjusted to the grind of weekend baseball.

"It's pretty much what I expected, which was a little bit of good, a little bit of bad," Hamsley said. "For us, we preach playing clean, fundamental baseball, and limiting the freebies. Those are things that the first weekend looked a little rusty, and that's probably the difference in the two losses. Then we're able to win that freebie war with the other two games and play well."

The Raiders' offense, however, showed it could be a strength. In the second game of the series, the Raiders delivered a statement response after the opening loss. They erupted for 12 runs, led by first baseman Jackson Groves, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and scored three runs. Outfielder Nick Potts added three hits and two RBIs, while second baseman Preston Brooks and third baseman Jacob Bly each drove in two runs. The Raiders scored four in the fifth and three more in the sixth to pull away.

"In game one, to start the season by getting walked and watching the other team rush the field, it's tough," he said. "But we got to see what kind of care level and what kind of fight you had in our dugout in Game 2. It was a huge response. We came out and scored 12 runs with 13 hits."

The fourth game proved the weekend's most encouraging win in Hamsley's eyes. The Raiders built a three-run lead, only to trail 6-3 before fighting back to 6-5. After USC Union pushed the margin to 9-5, Roane State kept grinding, plating runs in the later innings to secure the 14-11 victory.

"We were able to just keep pushing, plugging and fighting away and get a win," Hamsley said. "In that last game, 14 hits and the difference maker for us in that game is pitching staff as a unit. We only walked 5 people and when you can minimize things like that, it's going to help you a lot."

Groves again starred at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including two doubles. Center fielder Tristan Costoulas delivered a two-run double in the first inning and added another RBI, while designated hitter Carson Hoard and others contributed to the 14-run outburst. The Raiders committed no errors in the contest, a step forward in the fundamentals Hamsley emphasizes.

"The offense is going to be very effective this year," he said. "Overall, I'd say I feel about 50-50 about the weekend, which is right where the record is. So, we'll have to get home and keep getting a little bit better."