The Gamecocks played at Alabama for the final series of the regular season and won 2 games to 1 by scores of 1-2, 6-3 and 3-2.
Breaking it Down…The Gamecocks got off to a rough start on Thursday night and never really righted the ship. In the top of the first USC loaded the bases with two outs and couldn’t score. In the bottom of the first a bunt was mis-handled after a lead off single. A sacrifice moved the runners over, and with two outs a double scored two. That’s all the runs the Crimson Tide would get or need.
The Gamecocks seemed to stay shell shocked for the next couple of innings and didn’t threaten until the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out, and Christian Walker came to the plate. He smoked a ball to deep left field and just missed a grand slam. The runner on third scored easily, but the runner on second was gunned at the plate. A fly ball ended the inning. Michael Roth shut the Tide down after the first inning and was relieved in the sixth by John Taylor. Taylor was efficient and held Alabama down, but the offense never arrived.
Friday the Gamecocks took the field without a hint of panic and seemingly without concern. Their confidence was well founded, and they played like a team that had been there before. Forrest Koumas stopped the Tide in the first three innings. In the fourth Bama led off with back to back doubles to take the lead 1-0. Koumas didn’t get rattled and got out of the inning with no further damage. The Gamecock offense arrived in their half of the fifth. Christian Walker hit a two out, two run double to score Evan Marzilli and Scott Wingo. In the seventh, the Gamecocks added another run. Like the fifth inning, the seventh’s scoring was sparked by a Marzilli lead off hit. in the bottom of the seventh Matt Price came into the game. Price struck out all three batters he faced, and the offense broke it open in the eighth. After two quick outs the Gamecocks pounded the Tide defense with a single, walk, double and single to make the score 6-1. Alabama then hit safely 5 times over the last two innings but only managed one run in each inning. Price picked up the save, and Koumas was the winning pitcher as the Gamecocks won 6-3.
On Saturday the Gamecocks entered the day tied with Florida and Vanderbilt for the SEC lead. A win would ensure that USC won the regular season championship. They started with one run in the first. Peter Mooney had a lead off single, and after he was moved over by a Scott Wingo single, Jake Williams drove him in. Colby Holmes then retired the Tide in the bottom of the first. Steven Neff hit a solo home run in the second to extend the lead to 2-0. After that, Holmes and Alabama starter Jonathan Smart dominated the game. No one scored again until Alabama put one on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Christian Walker led off the eighth with a double, and he scored on an Adrian Morales single. The Gamecocks then loaded the bases with no outs and were looking to blow the game open. Two fly outs and a strike out ended that threat. In the bottom of the eighth Alabama answered with a run of their own to cut the lead to 3-2. The Gamecocks scored none in the ninth. Matt Price was on the mound for USC, and the top of Alabama’s order was coming to the plate with the SEC on the line. Taylor Dugas flied out harmlessly to center field, and then the count went full on catcher Brock Bennett. Bennett hit sharply to Mooney who fielded it without trouble. The count went full on Jared Reaves, the third batter, and Price stuck him out looking to win the championship.
Stars of the Series…Peter Mooney…5-13, RBI…Scott Wingo…7-13…Christian Walker… 4-11, 2 2B, 5 RBI…Evan Marzilli…8-12, 3 2B, 2 RBI…Forrest Koumas…W, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 0 BB…Colby Holmes…W, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 4 BB…Matt Price…2 S, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 K, 1 HBP…John Taylor…3 app, 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K, 4 BB..
This and That…South Carolina improved to 44-12 overall and 22-8 in conference…Last year the Gamecocks finished the season 43-13…22-8 ties the Gamecocks for the Conference Championship with Florida and Vanderbilt…USC gets the #1 seed in the SEC tournament…Carolina won 9 of 10 conference series this year and 12 out of 13 overall.
What to Take from the Weekend…This is what you wanted to see. This is what you wanted to happen. We should be satisfied and happy. The Gamecocks are SEC champions. Maybe they can go on and win something more; maybe they won’t. Regardless this season is an unqualified success, and nothing that happens from here on out should take away from that.
Up next…Next for the Gamecocks is the SEC Tournament. USC plays Auburn at 5:30 on Wednesday on CSS. They will then play the winner or the loser of the Vanderbilt-Georgia game depending on whether they win or lose.
Stay with Leftoverhotdog.com all week for more on the tournament and the Gamecocks.
