Sept. 1, 2008

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina sophomore utility player Parker Bangs was named by Baseball America among the top 10 prospects out of the Coastal Plain Summer League. Bangs ranked No. 5 on the list compiled by the publication. A two-way performer, Bangs also earned All-Star honors this past summer with the Fayetteville Swamp Dogs.

Bangs finished the summer leading Fayetteville in the bullpen with five saves and had 21 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. He owned a 2-3 record with a 3.43 ERA. Bangs was a position player, mainly at first base, and hit .253 (45-for-178) with four HR and 31 RBI. He also had a team-high 15 doubles.

In his freshman season with Carolina, Bangs served as a utility player and relief pitcher. Bangs made 11 starts at designated hitter and also had 18 appearances in relief for the Garnet & Black. He finished the 2008 season batting .277 with a pair of homers and six RBI. In addition, he compiled a 3-3 record with two saves out of the bullpen as well as 34 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

South Carolina is one of only five schools in the nation to have made seven NCAA Super Regional appearances over the last nine years (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007). In the previous nine seasons, Carolina owns the fifth highest total of wins in the country (428) and has won more SEC games than any team in the league (162). In addition, the Gamecocks have made nine consecutive postseason appearances, the longest current streak among the 12 SEC schools. South Carolina also has three College World Series trips (2002, 2003, 2004), two SEC championships (2000, 2002) and one SEC tournament title (2004) in that span.