Call to the bullpen?

Tanner mulling moving Cisco to reliever

COLUMBIA — South Carolina's baseball team might have a new Friday night starter for this weekend's series at Arkansas.

Gamecocks coach Ray Tanner acknowledged Tuesday that he's considering temporarily removing Mike Cisco from the rotation because of Cisco's recent inconsistencies.

"It's not like he's pitching awful," Tanner said. "But his control just isn't what it has been."

Cisco is 5-3 with a 4.98 ERA. He's dropped his past two starts, giving up 10 earned runs in the April 25 loss at LSU and then four runs (one earned) in the May 2 loss against Florida.

He lasted just three innings against the Gators.

The right-hander's given up 18 hits in his past two starts (8 2/3 innings).

Tanner spoke Monday with Cisco about the possibility of the move. Cisco was visibly down Tuesday, not the same confident kid who came into the year as the team's ace.

But Tanner and the team are convinced that the staff's bulldog will again emerge, just as he did last season after encountering a dead arm during the same period in the SEC season.

"I'm frustrated, but I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself," Cisco said. "I want to work and figure out what I need to put pitches together and be consistent."

Tanner said he wasn't yet sure how the rotation would go if Cisco does move to the bullpen, other than senior Nick Godwin (5-2, 2.48) would be added in at some point.

Junior left-hander Will Atwood (5-2, 4.33) and sophomore right-hander Blake Cooper (5-4, 3.72) are the other two weekend starters.

Even if Cisco is pulled, Tanner said he plans to use him from the bullpen.

"He'll definitely pitch," Tanner said. "I'm still not convinced not to start him. We'll see."

With two weekend series remaining before the conference tournament, the Gamecocks (33-15, 13-11) are currently tied for third in the SEC East standings.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.