The line forms here for Omaha

Christian Walker doesn’t shy from any discussion of the South Carolina baseball program winning a third straight NCAA championship.

The junior first baseman, who played a prominent role on both title teams, looks at the talent on hand and sees no reason why a return trip to the College World Series isn’t possible.

“The expectations are always going to be in the back of your head, but at the same time, we didn’t let it bother us last year coming off the first one. Hopefully, we’ll have the same reaction this year,” said Walker, a preseason All-American who led the team in all the key batting categories last season. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we can be just as successful as we have been.”

The Gamecocks, who entered Friday’s first day of official team practice ranked No. 3 in the Baseball America Top 25, return the bulk of their pitching staff and outfield, although there are holes to fill in the infield. They don’t consider the high expectations a burden, however.

“We take it as more of a challenge than a burden,” Walker added.

Senior left-hander Michael Roth, the staff ace who went 14-3 with a 1.06 ERA in an All-American 2011 season, believes the goals for the traditional powerhouse have never changed.

“There’s always been a high standard here,” he said. “Our fans expect us to win, and I expect us to win.”

But two consecutive titles — which capped seasons of 54-16 in 2010 and 55-14 in 2001 — have elevated coach Ray Tanner’s program to the most elite level nationally. Roth insists the Gamecocks can’t change the way they go about their business, whether people believe they can do it one more time or not.

“You don’t get too high in your highs or too low in your lows. You stay pretty even. That’s really the key to this game,” Roth said. “Obviously, we know the fans expect to repeat and want to repeat. There are people who wonder whether we can come back out after all the losses with the infield. I think we’re going to be fine. We’re going to go out there and compete every day and battle.”

Last season, USC overcame a string of injuries on the way to its second straight title and now return many key players this season. Roth, converted closer Matt Price and Colby Holmes front the weekend rotation while converted starter Forrest Koumas moves to the closer’s role.

While the outfield lost Jackie Bradley to the professional ranks, three veterans return in seniors Adam Matthews and Jake Williams and junior Evan Marzilli. Talented freshman Tanner English will push for playing time.

Walker is back to anchor an infield that will look dramatically different than the past two seasons with the departures of second baseman Scott Wingo, shortstop Peter Mooney, third baseman Adrian Morales, and catcher Brady Thomas.

The new-look infield will feature junior college transfer Chase Vergason at second, freshman Joey Pankake at shortstop, junior college transfer LB Dantzler at third, and freshman Grayson Greiner at catcher.

Matthews, one of the captains along with Roth and Price, looks around the field and doesn’t see why the team can’t continue to maintain its high level of play.

“We’ve got a great group of new guys, and they’ve worked really hard in the weight room and on the field. As long as they can continue to perform like they did in the fall and continue to learn, we’ll come out here everyday and get better,” Matthews said. “We have a great chance to have a good year. We’ll see what the future holds as far as going back to Omaha.”

The newcomers are ready to do their part. Dantzler, who should supply power in the middle of the order, doesn’t believe they’re feeling pressure to replace players like Morales and Wingo.

“I wouldn’t say nervous as in pressure. It’s more like butterflies, and being kind of excited,” Dantzler said. “You can’t play when you put all this pressure on yourself. You want to have fun. You’re going to have bad games; that’s just part of it. If you come out and work hard every day, things will work out in the end.”

Where the Gamecocks end up may be determined by how well freshmen like Greiner, Pankake and English play.

“It’s kind of surreal for all of us,” Greiner said. “The team wins back-to-back national championships, and we have a chance to contribute early. We don’t really talk about it much, but I don’t think it’s really hit any of us that we’re having an opportunity in a program like this.”

If the Gamecocks are to navigate a 56-game schedule, as well as an NCAA regional and Super Regional, to return to Omaha, they also must find a way to capture the magic their predecessors always seemed to do when it counted the most.

“It’s a little different, but as far as the chemistry goes, I think it’s still there,” Walker said.