The Diamond Dogs (17-10, 6-3 SEC) will cross the halfway point of their season with tonight’s series-opener against 10th-ranked South Carolina. That said, The Red & Black figured it would be a good time for a mid-term examination, straight from the mouth of “Professor” David Perno himself.

Perno has said his team’s mantra this year has been hit home runs, play good defense and lean on pitching. So far, he thinks they’re doing a pretty good job.

Overall, head coach Perno gave his team a B+.

Managing to take a game apiece from top-ranked Arizona and defending champs Oregon State to start the season wasn’t bad, and winning every SEC series since kicked off the conference season with a bang.

“Looking at where we are right now, I like where we’re at,” Perno said. “Considering some games got away from us early, I like where we’re headed.”

Offense: (A-) Despite some recent struggles at the bottom of the lineup, the Diamond Dogs have already managed to smack 44 home runs (tied for the conference lead) after mustering just 42 last season.

Shortstop Gordon Beckham has emerged as a National Player of the Year candidate, leading the country in home runs (16), hits (50) and slugging percentage (.913).

“Offensively we’re above schedule for me,” Perno said. “We’ve hit more home runs already than we did last year and we’re only at the midpoint. It’s phenomenal. We’re hitting right at .300 (.299). I thought if we could be somewhere around .300 hitting as a team with 80 home runs we’re going to be good enough to win late in the year.”

Defense: (C+) The Diamond Dogs are right in the middle of the SEC pack in terms of fielding percentage at .967, but at times errors have been very detrimental to their winning ambitions.

“We’re a little under where I though we would be going in,” Perno said of his defense. “We’re throwing too many balls into center field with our catchers, (third baseman) Ryan (Peisel)’s made some very costly errors and it’s hurt us.”

Peisel has eight errors this season, many in late-inning situations.

Pitching: (A+) Starting pitching and the bullpen have been phenomenal of late for the Diamond Dogs.

All-American closer Joshua Fields has seven saves and has yet to allow an earned run, and six other relievers have ERAs under 3.50. In the Bulldog’s last two

SEC series (Tennessee, Mississippi State), the bullpen has gone 24.1 scoreless innings.

“That’s a strength, but we kind of knew that coming in,” Perno said. “We’re not underachieving but were also not overachieving. We’re throwing the ball well, we’re throwing a ton of strikes. I think everybody’s getting in their roles and they’re rolling with it.”

- Tyler Estep