USC-Vanderbilt Game 1 Blog (Fri. 3/14)
posted by Scott Hood, Friday, March 14, 2008
11:05 - Lail strikesout. Single by Crisp to RF! Here comes Smoak. The RF makes a strong throw fromshallow RF. He's out at the plate! Great throw. Smoak was out by 5 feet. We go to the bottom of the 13th still tied at 3-3.
11:00 - Smoak draws a walk to start the 13th. Enders sacrificed 1-3. Darnell is up. VU will walk him to get to Lail. VU coach is out.
10:50 - 2-out double by VU in the B12th. Todd has to work out of trouble here. There's an infield single to SS. Runners at 1&3, 2 outs. Tanner is out to chat. Pressure is on. Strikeout!! We go to the 13th. Tied 3-3.
10:45 - Craig Thomas is the new pitcher for USC here in the bottom of the 12th. The dangerous Flaherty leads off for VU. He's 4-4 with a BB. But Thomas gets him to foul out to 3rd. one out. New pitcher for USC. Brandon Todd coming in. Looks like Tanner wanted the LHP to face Flaherty only.
10:40 - Havens flies to LF for the second out. New VU pitcher is Russell Brewer. Merrifield up. He can be a hero here. 3-2. Close pitch for Ball 3. The crowd wanted that one. 2 fouls. F-9. We go to the bottom of the 12th still tied at 3-3.
10:30 - Hopper singled to left. Adam Crisp up. Another single! Runners at 1&2, 1 out. New pitcher for VU. This is USC's best opportunity to score in extra innings.
10:25 - Deep fly to RF. Caught at the wall. Another F-9 to deep RF. But another long out. We go to the 12th still tied 3-3.
10:15 - 2 outs in the top of the 11th. Darnell singles to CF. He had been 0 for 4 with 4 K's. Good to see him break out of it. But Lail 1-3. We go to the bottom of the 11th with the score tied at 3-3.
10:05 - 1 out, runner on 1st for VU. There's a drive to deep CF. Caught in front of the wall by Merrifield. 2 outs. That was close. This game was almost over. Another F-8. We go to the 11th tied at 3-3.
10:00 - Havens walked with 2 outs in the 10th. But he didn't score. We go to the bottom of the 10th with the score tied at 3-3. Johnson still pitching for USC. Hels beginning his fourth IP.
9:55 - 1 out to go. There'a drive to CF. Home run. Game is tied 3-3. Ouch! There's a single to CF. Runner is thrown out at 2nd. WE GO TO EXTRA INNINGS. Tied 3-3.
9:50 - F-8 to deep CF. 1 out. Strikeout. 2 outs. 1 out to go.
9:45 - Crisp L-9 for the 3rd out. We go to the bottom of the 9th with USC leading, 3-2. Johnson still P for USC.
9:40 - Darnell fans for the 4th time. 2 outs. Runner on 2nd. Lail lines one to LF. The LF dives. He can't get it! RUN SCORES! USC leads 3-2!! Crisp is up next.
9:35 - Top of the 9th. Smoak K's. Enders doubles to the wall in LCF! Runner on 2B, 1 out.
9:30 - VU out in the bottom of the 8th. WE GO TO THE NINTH TIED 2-2.
9:20 - Merrifield K's for the third out. We go to the bottom of the 8th tied at 2-2. Curtis Johnson still pitching for USC. Adam Crisp in LF. His brother Andrew moves to 2B.
9:12 - Mismatch between Minor and Crisp. Strikeout. Havens up. USC needs a big hit here. Two runs here could be enough. 2-1 on Havens. 2-2. Long foul to RF. 3-2. Grounder to first. Run scores! Game is tied at 2-2.
9:10 - Crisp leads off the T8 with a single. Disher up. He's talking with Tanner. There's a hit over 3B!! This looks like a double. It is. Crisp to 3rd. USC has two runners in scoring position. Hopper PR for Disher. Adam Crisp PH for Wingo.
9:05 - Sacrifice and IBB loads the bases fo VU. There's a chopper to 2B. It's not hit hard but it's enough to score the run. It's 2-1 VU. F-8 for the 3rd out. We go to the top of the 8th with VU leading 2-1.
9:00 - Another infield single by VU. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs in B7. Here comes Tanner. That's it for Cisco. Curtis Johnson is the new P for USC. He needs to get out of a jam here. The way Minor is pitching for VU, one run may be enough for VU.
8:55 - Cisco was hit in the leg by a hard grounder. Infield single. He limped around for a minute but looks OK. He's taking some practice tosses right now. VU has runner at first, 0 outs in the B7.
8:50 - USC down 1-2-3 in the 7th. We go to the bottom of the 7th with the score still tied at 1-1. Great SEC baseball game. USC has 2 hits, while VU has 7.
8:40 - VU has a runner at second with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th. The dreaded 2-out walk. But K 2-3. We go to the 7th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:30 - We're in the top of the 6th. USC still has just one hit. There's beautiful bunt by Merrifield. Base hit. Second of the game. But Smoak out 5-3. Nice play by the Vandy 3B. We go to the bottom of the 6th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:25 - 5-4-3 DP, USC's second twin-killing of ther game, ends the VU 5th. We go to the 6th with the score tied at 1-1. Wingo, Havens, Merrifield.
8:15 - In the top of the 5th, Crisp walked with 2 outs and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. But Disher grounded out 1-3. We go to the bottom of the 5th tied at 1-1.
8:10 - 1-out double to RF by Vandy. Six hits for the Commodores. USC has one hit, the solo HR by Merrifield. P-6 for second out. K for the 3rd out. Vandy has stranded 6 runners. We go to the top of the 5th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:07 - Smoak and Darnell retired. We go to the bottom of the 4th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:05 - Home run by Whit Merrifield to LF! Vandy has their own version of the Green Monster in LF. First base runner after 10 straight batters were retired. Game tied 1-1.
8:00 - Havens 6-3 DP. Cisco gets out of the inning giving up just 1 run. We go to the top of the 4th with Vandy leading 1-0.
7:47 - Another base hit to CF. Run scores. Third straight hit for Commodores. Vandy leads 1-0. Still 1 out, runners at 1&2. Here comes Calvi for a visit.
7:45 - 1-out single to RF for Vandy in the bottom of the 3rd. Third hit for VU. Another single to CF. VU has runners at 1&2, 1 out.
7:40 - 9 up, 9 down for USC through 3 At-bats. Only 1 ball has left the infield. We go to the bottom of the 3rd, 0-0.
7:35 - No major problems for Cisco in the bottom of the 2nd. 2-out HBP. But 4-3 ended it. We go to the third 0-0.
7:30 - USC down 1-2-3 again in the second. A pair of 1-3's and a K. USC has barely touched Minor in the first 2 at-bats. We go to the bottom of the 2nd, 0-0.
7:20 - Vandy loaded the bases in the bottom of the 1st with 2 outs on a pair of singles and a walk but Cisco got out of it with a 4-3 chopper. We go to the top of the second with the game tied at 0-0.
7:00 - We're underway in Nashville. USC down 1-2-3. Nice sliding catch by the VU LF for the third out. Here is USC's traveling roster:
Havens - 6
Merrifield - 8
Smoak - 3
Enders - 2
Darnell - 5
Lail - 9
Crisp - 7
Disher - DH
Wingo - 4
Cisco - P
***************
Hopper
Royal
Thomas
Casey
Todd
Mack
Wideberg
Adam Crisp
Rodriguez
Johnson
Atwood
Cooper
Godwin
Farotto
Bangs
6:50 - We're live from Hawkins Field in Nashville for this weekend's series between USC and Vanderbilt. Here is USC's starting lineup:
Havens - 6
Merrifield - 8
Smoak - 3
Enders - 2
Darnell - 5
Lail - 9
Crisp - 7
Disher - DH
Wingo - 4
Cisco - P
We're about 10-15 from the first pitch. I'll post the entire travel roster in a few minutes.
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11:10 - Todd issues 1-out walk. Single to LF. VU has runners at 1&2, 1 out. Walk on a close pitch. Bases loaded. Tanner is out to talk to Todd. Flaherty up. He is VU's best hitter. 3-1. Strike. Wow. 3-2. Full count. Single to RF. Vanderbilt wins 4-3 in 13 innings. Good ballgame. 3 p.m. Saturday.
11:05 - Lail strikesout. Single by Crisp to RF! Here comes Smoak. The RF makes a strong throw fromshallow RF. He's out at the plate! Great throw. Smoak was out by 5 feet. We go to the bottom of the 13th still tied at 3-3.
11:00 - Smoak draws a walk to start the 13th. Enders sacrificed 1-3. Darnell is up. VU will walk him to get to Lail. VU coach is out.
10:50 - 2-out double by VU in the B12th. Todd has to work out of trouble here. There's an infield single to SS. Runners at 1&3, 2 outs. Tanner is out to chat. Pressure is on. Strikeout!! We go to the 13th. Tied 3-3.
10:45 - Craig Thomas is the new pitcher for USC here in the bottom of the 12th. The dangerous Flaherty leads off for VU. He's 4-4 with a BB. But Thomas gets him to foul out to 3rd. one out. New pitcher for USC. Brandon Todd coming in. Looks like Tanner wanted the LHP to face Flaherty only.
10:40 - Havens flies to LF for the second out. New VU pitcher is Russell Brewer. Merrifield up. He can be a hero here. 3-2. Close pitch for Ball 3. The crowd wanted that one. 2 fouls. F-9. We go to the bottom of the 12th still tied at 3-3.
10:30 - Hopper singled to left. Adam Crisp up. Another single! Runners at 1&2, 1 out. New pitcher for VU. This is USC's best opportunity to score in extra innings.
10:25 - Deep fly to RF. Caught at the wall. Another F-9 to deep RF. But another long out. We go to the 12th still tied 3-3.
10:15 - 2 outs in the top of the 11th. Darnell singles to CF. He had been 0 for 4 with 4 K's. Good to see him break out of it. But Lail 1-3. We go to the bottom of the 11th with the score tied at 3-3.
10:05 - 1 out, runner on 1st for VU. There's a drive to deep CF. Caught in front of the wall by Merrifield. 2 outs. That was close. This game was almost over. Another F-8. We go to the 11th tied at 3-3.
10:00 - Havens walked with 2 outs in the 10th. But he didn't score. We go to the bottom of the 10th with the score tied at 3-3. Johnson still pitching for USC. Hels beginning his fourth IP.
9:55 - 1 out to go. There'a drive to CF. Home run. Game is tied 3-3. Ouch! There's a single to CF. Runner is thrown out at 2nd. WE GO TO EXTRA INNINGS. Tied 3-3.
9:50 - F-8 to deep CF. 1 out. Strikeout. 2 outs. 1 out to go.
9:45 - Crisp L-9 for the 3rd out. We go to the bottom of the 9th with USC leading, 3-2. Johnson still P for USC.
9:40 - Darnell fans for the 4th time. 2 outs. Runner on 2nd. Lail lines one to LF. The LF dives. He can't get it! RUN SCORES! USC leads 3-2!! Crisp is up next.
9:35 - Top of the 9th. Smoak K's. Enders doubles to the wall in LCF! Runner on 2B, 1 out.
9:30 - VU out in the bottom of the 8th. WE GO TO THE NINTH TIED 2-2.
9:20 - Merrifield K's for the third out. We go to the bottom of the 8th tied at 2-2. Curtis Johnson still pitching for USC. Adam Crisp in LF. His brother Andrew moves to 2B.
9:12 - Mismatch between Minor and Crisp. Strikeout. Havens up. USC needs a big hit here. Two runs here could be enough. 2-1 on Havens. 2-2. Long foul to RF. 3-2. Grounder to first. Run scores! Game is tied at 2-2.
9:10 - Crisp leads off the T8 with a single. Disher up. He's talking with Tanner. There's a hit over 3B!! This looks like a double. It is. Crisp to 3rd. USC has two runners in scoring position. Hopper PR for Disher. Adam Crisp PH for Wingo.
9:05 - Sacrifice and IBB loads the bases fo VU. There's a chopper to 2B. It's not hit hard but it's enough to score the run. It's 2-1 VU. F-8 for the 3rd out. We go to the top of the 8th with VU leading 2-1.
9:00 - Another infield single by VU. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs in B7. Here comes Tanner. That's it for Cisco. Curtis Johnson is the new P for USC. He needs to get out of a jam here. The way Minor is pitching for VU, one run may be enough for VU.
8:55 - Cisco was hit in the leg by a hard grounder. Infield single. He limped around for a minute but looks OK. He's taking some practice tosses right now. VU has runner at first, 0 outs in the B7.
8:50 - USC down 1-2-3 in the 7th. We go to the bottom of the 7th with the score still tied at 1-1. Great SEC baseball game. USC has 2 hits, while VU has 7.
8:40 - VU has a runner at second with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th. The dreaded 2-out walk. But K 2-3. We go to the 7th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:30 - We're in the top of the 6th. USC still has just one hit. There's beautiful bunt by Merrifield. Base hit. Second of the game. But Smoak out 5-3. Nice play by the Vandy 3B. We go to the bottom of the 6th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:25 - 5-4-3 DP, USC's second twin-killing of ther game, ends the VU 5th. We go to the 6th with the score tied at 1-1. Wingo, Havens, Merrifield.
8:15 - In the top of the 5th, Crisp walked with 2 outs and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. But Disher grounded out 1-3. We go to the bottom of the 5th tied at 1-1.
8:10 - 1-out double to RF by Vandy. Six hits for the Commodores. USC has one hit, the solo HR by Merrifield. P-6 for second out. K for the 3rd out. Vandy has stranded 6 runners. We go to the top of the 5th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:07 - Smoak and Darnell retired. We go to the bottom of the 4th with the score tied at 1-1.
8:05 - Home run by Whit Merrifield to LF! Vandy has their own version of the Green Monster in LF. First base runner after 10 straight batters were retired. Game tied 1-1.
8:00 - Havens 6-3 DP. Cisco gets out of the inning giving up just 1 run. We go to the top of the 4th with Vandy leading 1-0.
7:47 - Another base hit to CF. Run scores. Third straight hit for Commodores. Vandy leads 1-0. Still 1 out, runners at 1&2. Here comes Calvi for a visit.
7:45 - 1-out single to RF for Vandy in the bottom of the 3rd. Third hit for VU. Another single to CF. VU has runners at 1&2, 1 out.
7:40 - 9 up, 9 down for USC through 3 At-bats. Only 1 ball has left the infield. We go to the bottom of the 3rd, 0-0.
7:35 - No major problems for Cisco in the bottom of the 2nd. 2-out HBP. But 4-3 ended it. We go to the third 0-0.
7:30 - USC down 1-2-3 again in the second. A pair of 1-3's and a K. USC has barely touched Minor in the first 2 at-bats. We go to the bottom of the 2nd, 0-0.
7:20 - Vandy loaded the bases in the bottom of the 1st with 2 outs on a pair of singles and a walk but Cisco got out of it with a 4-3 chopper. We go to the top of the second with the game tied at 0-0.
7:00 - We're underway in Nashville. USC down 1-2-3. Nice sliding catch by the VU LF for the third out. Here is USC's traveling roster:
Havens - 6
Merrifield - 8
Smoak - 3
Enders - 2
Darnell - 5
Lail - 9
Crisp - 7
Disher - DH
Wingo - 4
Cisco - P
***************
Hopper
Royal
Thomas
Casey
Todd
Mack
Wideberg
Adam Crisp
Rodriguez
Johnson
Atwood
Cooper
Godwin
Farotto
Bangs
6:50 - We're live from Hawkins Field in Nashville for this weekend's series between USC and Vanderbilt. Here is USC's starting lineup:
Havens - 6
Merrifield - 8
Smoak - 3
Enders - 2
Darnell - 5
Lail - 9
Crisp - 7
Disher - DH
Wingo - 4
Cisco - P
We're about 10-15 from the first pitch. I'll post the entire travel roster in a few minutes.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.