The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has perennially been one of the best teams in college baseball since 1970, posting 35 NCAA tournament appearances, 11 College World Series berths, 6 CWS Finals appearances and 2 National Championships: 2010 and 2011. South Carolina is one of six schools in NCAA history to win back-to-back titles. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the team has competed in the Eastern division. South Carolina owns a stellar 32–20 record at the CWS and holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins (22) in the national tournament as well as the longest win streak ever at the CWS (12 in a row from 2010 to 2012) in which the Gamecocks played for national titles all three years.

The former interim head coach was Monte Lee. Lee took over after Paul Mainieri stepped down on March 21st, 2026. Mainieri was hired after Mark Kingston was fired following the 2024 season. Kingston became the head coach of the program after Chad Holbrook resigned following the 2018 season. Holbrook took over for Ray Tanner, who was named athletics director at USC after the 2012 season. This follows a string of three consecutive appearances in the national championship series, including two consecutive national championships. During Tanner's stint as head coach, the Gamecocks also captured three SEC titles, one SEC tournament title, seven division titles, six College World Series appearances, and 13 of their 15 straight NCAA tournaments (longest streak in the SEC at the time). Between 2010 and 2012, the Gamecocks set two NCAA records for postseason success: the most consecutive NCAA tournament wins (22) and the most consecutive wins in the College World Series (12). In 2013, South Carolina set the record for consecutive home NCAA tournament wins, with 29. The Gamecocks made their 14th appearance in the Super Regional round of the NCAA D1 Tournament in 2023, the third most in the country. The team plays its home games at Founders Park, which opened on February 21, 2009.

Program history South Carolina played its first intercollegiate game on May 2, 1895, against Wofford in Spartanburg after the faculty agreed to let the athletic teams travel outside of Columbia. After decades of lackluster performance on the diamond, South Carolina's fortunes quickly changed with the hiring of former New York Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson in 1970. Since then, the Gamecocks have been regular NCAA tournament participants, making 35 Regional and 11 College World Series appearances.

South Carolina owns a 32–20 all-time record at the College World Series and is 141–75 in NCAA tournament play. South Carolina holds the NCAA tournament records for consecutive NCAA tournament wins (22), consecutive CWS wins (12), and consecutive home NCAA tournament wins (29). In 132 years of baseball, through 2025, South Carolina has 2,813 wins, 1,717 losses, and 17 ties.

Bobby Richardson era (1970–1976)

Richardson led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1974, which set the stage for what would happen a year later. In 1975, South Carolina posted a 51–6–1 record, made the College World Series and played for the National Title against Texas (5–1 Longhorns victory). Richardson left South Carolina after the 1976 season, finishing his tenure with a 221–92–1 record and three NCAA tournament appearances.

June Raines era (1977–1996)

June Raines took over the Gamecocks in 1977 and picked up where Richardson left off, leading the Gamecocks to a 43–12–1 record and its second National Title game appearance in three years (2–1 loss to Arizona State). Raines led the Gamecocks to three more College World Series appearances by his final season in 1996, and he finished his tenure as the program's all-time winningest coach with a 763–380–2 overall record. During the Raines' era, South Carolina made 11 NCAA tournament appearances and posted nine 40-win seasons. The 1980s saw the program's most successful run during Raines' tenure, as the Gamecocks made eight NCAA tournaments, including seven straight from 1980 to 1986.

Ray Tanner era (1997–2012)

In 1997, Ray Tanner was hired and quickly built upon the winning tradition that Richardson created and Raines had perpetuated. In 16 seasons as the Gamecocks' skipper, Tanner compiled a 738–316 (.700) record with six College World Series appearances including finishing as National runner-up in 2002 and 2012 while winning the 2010 and 2011 NCAA National Championships. Under Tanner, the Gamecocks have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances, advanced to the Super Regionals 10 times, and have posted fourteen 40-win and five 50-win seasons. In addition, the Gamecocks won the 2000, 2002 and 2011 SEC regular season championships, the 2004 SEC Tournament Championship, and six SEC East titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012). In 2010, Tanner and the Gamecocks won the NCAA Championship at the old Johnny "The Blatt" Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, becoming the first team to win six straight games in a College World Series and the third team to win the CWS after losing its first game of the series. In 2011, Coach Tanner led the Gamecocks to a share of the 2011 Regular Season SEC Championship before winning the 2011 NCAA National Championship at the new TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. Under Coach Tanner's guidance, South Carolina set the NCAA record for consecutive NCAA tournament wins (22) and CWS wins (12) between 2010 and 2012, as the Gamecocks became just the sixth program to win back-to-back CWS titles. On July 13, 2012, Coach Tanner accepted the position of athletics director at USC, bringing his tenure as baseball head coach to a close.

Chad Holbrook era (2013–2017) Chad Holbrook became head coach at the start of the 2013 season and began his career on February 15, 2013. South Carolina defeated Liberty 4–3 on a day honoring Tanner. South Carolina reached the NCAA tournament in 2013, 2014, and 2016, advancing to the Super Regionals during the 2013 and 2016 season. Holbrook resigned on June 6, 2017.

Mark Kingston era (2018–2024) Mark Kingston became head coach at the start of the 2018 season and began his career on February 16, 2018. In his first season, he led the Gamecocks to a Regional in which they won, going 3–0 in the Greenville (ECU) Regional. In 2019, South Carolina went 28–28 and missed the NCAA Tournament. In 2020, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gamecocks finished 12–4 before the cancellation. In 2021, the Gamecocks finished 34–23 and 16–14 in SEC play. They hosted the Columbia regional, but as a #2 seed, due to COVID-19 restrictions. They finished third, going 1–2. In 2022, South Carolina finished 27–28 overall and 13–17 in SEC play. They missed the NCAA Tournament. In 2023, the Gamecocks finished 42–21 and 16–13 in SEC play. They were selected as the 15th overall seed, hosting the Columbia regional. South Carolina went 3–0 and won the regional. They would lose both games to #2 overall seed Florida to end the season. In 2024, South Carolina went 37–24 and 13–17 in SEC play to earn a #2 seed in the Raleigh (NC State) regional. They would finish 1–2 with losses to NC State and James Madison to close out the season. On June 3, 2024, one day after the season ended, Mark Kingston was fired after seven seasons. Associate head coach Monte Lee was named interim head coach.

Paul Mainieri era (2025–2026) On June 11, 2024, Former LSU head coach Paul Mainieri became the 31st head coach in program history. He replaced Mark Kingston, who led the program for 7 seasons (2018–2024). In 2025, South Carolina went 28-29 (6-24 SEC) and missed the NCAA Tournament. After a 12-11 start to the 2026 season, Mainieri and South Carolina mutually parted ways.

Kevin Schnall era (2027–Present) On June 10, 2026, Kevin Schnall became the 32nd head coach in program history. He takes over the helm after a 2 year stint as head coach at Coastal Carolina. Schnall replaces Paul Mainieri, who led the program for 1 full season before being fired midway into his 2nd season.

2000s: SEC dominance and return to Omaha

In the 10 years from 2000 to 2009, South Carolina posted an impressive 468–201 overall record (179–120 SEC). The 468 overall wins ranked fourth in Division I College Baseball (first among SEC programs), and the 179 SEC victories led the conference for the decade. The Gamecocks made the NCAA tournament every season, advancing to seven Super Regionals and three College World Series (first CWS berths since 1985). In addition, South Carolina won 40 or more games each season and hit the 50-win mark on three occasions (2000, 2002, 2004). The highlight of the decade was an appearance in the 2002 National Championship game against Texas, who defeated the Gamecocks by a score of 12–6. The 2002 squad finished with a 57–18 mark, setting the record for most season victories in program history.

2000–2004: Winningest Program in NCAA Division I – In the five seasons from 2000 to 2004, South Carolina won more games than any other Division I College Baseball program in the nation (260–87 record). This stretch included five Super Regionals, three College World Series berths, three 50-win seasons, a 99–50 SEC record, three SEC championships (2 season and 1 tournament), and three SEC East titles.

South Carolina won eight SEC series to finish 21–9 in regular season conference play (2nd place), but posted an 0–2 mark in the SEC Tournament. Once the NCAA tournament began, however, the Gamecocks rode strong pitching and clutch hitting to win their Regional and Super Regional and earn a berth in the College World Series. After an opening game loss to Oklahoma, South Carolina reeled off four straight victories to reach the championship series against UCLA. The Gamecocks continued their hot streak, defeating the Bruins in consecutive games (7–1 and 2–1) to win the 2010 National Championship. South Carolina finished the season with a 54–16 overall record, which included an 11–1 mark in NCAA postseason play. South Carolina was the final team to win the CWS Championship in Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, and Gamecock center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was named CWS Most Outstanding Player.

2010 National Championship

South Carolina won eight SEC series to finish 21–9 in regular season conference play (2nd place), but posted an 0–2 mark in the SEC Tournament. Once the NCAA tournament began, however, the Gamecocks rode strong pitching and clutch hitting to win their Regional and Super Regional and earn a berth in the College World Series. After an opening game loss to Oklahoma, South Carolina reeled off four straight victories to reach the championship series against UCLA. Just as in 2002, the Gamecocks had to defeat arch rival Clemson twice (5–1 and 4–3) to reach the tournament finals against heavily favored UCLA. The Gamecocks continued their hot streak, defeating the Bruins in consecutive games (7–1 and 2–1) to win the 2010 National Championship. South Carolina finished the season with a 54–16 overall record, which included an 11–1 mark in NCAA postseason play. South Carolina was the final team to win the CWS Championship in Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, and Gamecock center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was named CWS Most Outstanding Player. This marked the university's first major athletic national championship.

2011 National Championship