The Gulf Coast has its share of softball stars making noise in the SEC, but there's also a dominant arm from the Eastern Shore carving out a name on the baseball side.

Bayside Academy alum Josh Gunther has emerged as the Friday night starter for the University of South Carolina, anchoring the Gamecocks' rotation in his junior season.

In his first year back in a starting role since his senior season at Bayside, the right-hander has established himself as one the staff aces. Through 27 innings, Gunther leads South Carolina with 36 strikeouts, while issuing just 11 walks and holding opponents to a .245 batting average.

Gunther made an immediate impact in his first collegiate start on opening weekend, striking out seven over 4.2 innings in a win against Northern Kentucky. He followed that performance with a dominant outing against rival Clemson, tossing a career-high seven innings with 10 strikeouts and no runs allowed in a 7-0 shutout victory.

Before arriving in Columbia, Gunther spent two seasons just two hours north at Wake Forest working primarily out of the bullpen. Last season, he struck out 47 batters in 29 innings while limiting opponents to a .194 average and allowing just one extra-base hit. As a freshman in 2024, he appeared in 28 games, recording 38 strikeouts across 31.1 innings.

Gunther's rise traces back to a dominant prep career at Bayside Academy. In 2023, he was named Alabama Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Year after going 10-1 with a 0.73 ERA and 97 strikeouts as a senior. He was ranked the No. 7 right-handed pitcher and No. 19 overall prospect in Alabama's 2023 class by Perfect Game.

The Eastern Shore native will be looking for his first career SEC win this coming Friday when South Carolina takes on the No. 7-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.