All the South Carolina Baseball team had to do was win and that is exactly what they did. Today, they beat Alabama 3-2 to clinch the series but most important is at worse they clinched a share of the SEC Crown. USC will be the number one seed in the upcoming SEC tourney. This ‘Bama series win likely secured USC a Top Eight seed for the upcoming march back to the College World Series.
The Gamecocks finish the 2011 season with a 44-12 overall record and a 22-8 conference mark. USC will face a SEC West opponent next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET. at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala.
This is South Carolina’s first SEC regular season title since 2002 and just third ever.
What makes this season so impressive is the way the overcame injuries and went with new faces in the pitching rotation. Not many gave USC a chance once Jackie Bradley went down but this team has a “never say die” attitude that started in 2010. That attitude spilled over into this season and no matter what the Gamecocks faced, they kept the focus. That is a testament to the coaching staff. This could be Tanner’s best coaching job. I ask you, is it?
Here is the SEC Tourney seeding –
(1) SC vs (8) Auburn; (2) Arkansas vs (7) Alabama; (3) Florida vs (6) Miss State; (4) Vandy vs (5) Georgia.
Here are the FINAL STATS from today’s win.
Lastly, here is our favorite quote from Coach Tanner about today’s win –
“We’re not using the word, ‘co-,'” coach Ray Tanner said. “If you go through the SEC and you end up in first, we’re just regular-season champs. I’m sure they’ll feel the same way.”
