South Carolina dominated Georgia this weekend and won by scores of 7-2, 7-1 and 8-3. The Gamecocks appear to be putting all the pieces together at the right time. Starting pitching was excellent all three days, and the bullpen continues its late surge. Adam Westmoreland and Tyler Webb continue to pitch like All-SEC pitchers, and players like Colby Holmes appear to be stepping up out of the pen. This team has needed another bullpen option, and if Holmes is returning to form, they’ve found it.
Carolina’s bats also had a productive weekend. Joey Pankake and Grayson Greiner are striping the ball. Chase Vergason and Max Schrock are putting together good approaches, and struggling Graham Saiko is getting back on track. English and Bright have had better weekends, numbers wise, but they’ll be fine.
After DH’ing Friday and Saturday LB Dantzler took Sunday off because of continued discomfort in his shoulder. He should be back soon, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him sit Tuesday to make sure he’s healthy for the stretch run.
SEC Standings and Tournament
The Gamecocks are 16-10 in conference. They can’t catch Vanderbilt, and Florida can’t catch them, so they’ll finish 2nd in the East.
The top 4 SEC finishers will get first round byes in the SEC tournament. After the two division champs take spots one and two, three and four are determined by overall conference record without reference to division. Carolina is in 4th with a 2.5 game lead on Miss State and Ole Miss. USC can clinch 4th with just one win this weekend.
The Gamecocks can still get the #3 seed by catching Arkansas. The Hogs have a one game lead and hold the tiebreaker, so Carolina will essentially have to make up two games. If USC sweeps, Arkansas can win no more than two. If USC wins the series but drops a game, Arkansas must be swept. The Hogs are playing Auburn, so I don’t expect them to lose the series.
NCAA Tournament
The Gamecocks are in. It’s just a question of seeding. Barring a complete collapse Carolina will be one of the 16 regional hosts. They are not now in a position for a national seed. The difference is that a national seed will play all of their games at home until the College World Series; a regional host would play on the road in the super regionals against the national seed.
If Carolina beats Presbyterian and takes the series at Mississippi State, they’ll be squarely on the national seed bubble. The finishes of other teams with good resumes and the Gamecocks performance in Hoover will determine who gets the last national seeds.
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