Auburn Too Much for Gamecocks in 12 innings

Another disappointing lose for the Gamecocks in Hoover, has fans wondering what has happened to the offense.  

In 21 innings, the gamecocks managed to plate just one run, on a Brady Thomas home run.  Leaving 11 runners on base during the 12 inning marathon today against Auburn.  

The loss sends the Gamecocks home with an overall record of 43-15 and hoping that is enough to earn them a national seed in next week’s NCAA tournament.    Auburn who is also looking to land a national seed, has improved to 40-19 as they await the loser of the Ole Miss/ Bama game tonight.  

From a national media standing, both Auburn and Carolina were looking to secure the 8th seed in next week’s tournament.  After today’s loss and poor offensive performance in the SEC tournament, I am thinking Carolina missed out on a golden opportunity. It would be a shock if USC received a national seed, so now all we can hope for is to host a regional in Columbia next week, and get a decent match up in the Supers.

Let’s just hope Coach Tanner has enough time to get the team hitting again before the regionals.  He needs to provide a lot of batting practice for these kids and remind them how to hit a baseball where the opposing player is not.  

Stay tuned as we will find out the regional seedings on Monday.  Look for USC to be matched up with at least one other school from South Carolina – maybe The Citadel or College of Charleston.

Looking closer at the SEC Tournament, you have to say USC still has strong pitching and a bullpen that is pitching well.  I question Coach Tanners call to leave Matt Price in the game as long as he did, but Price was pitching well against the Tigers.

Here are a couple facts as pointed out by www.SECSports.com

1. The elimination of South Carolina marks the first time since 1999 that the Gamecocks have returned to Columbia without winning a game in the Tournament.
2. South Carolina lost back-to-back games only three other times this season. Those times all came in series against East Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida.
3. USC centerfielder sophomore Jackie Bradley Jr. saw his season high hit streak rise to 11 games. Went 3-6 with a double in the contest.
4. USC starting pitcher Blake Cooper set a personal best for innings pitched in a postseason game. The senior went seven and two-thirds innings, giving up just one earned run on Creede Simpson’s fourth-inning home run.
5. The game was the first extra-inning game in the SEC Tournament since the first game of the 2008 tourney and the longest since a 4-3 South Carolina victory over Florida in 12 innings in 2007.

Time for some rest for the Gamecocks, get re-focused and prepare for the regionals.  All is not lost but the bite from the Tigers will take a day or two to get over.  Go Cocks!