USC-Vanderbilt Game 3 Blog (Sun. 3/16)
posted by Scott Hood on Sunday, March 16, 2008
5:15 - No runs for VU in the B8. WE GO TO THE NINTH with USC losing 10-2. Top of the order due for USC.
5:05 - USC out in the T8 without scoring, though they had 2 runners on. Darnell singled to open the inning for his third hit of the game. We go to the B8 with VU leading, 10-2.
4:55 - VU is finally out in the B7. They send 9 men to the plate and score 4 runs. They lead 10-2 as we to the T8. Darnell, Lail, Crisp due.
4:45 - Wideberg out, Farotto in for USC here in the B7. Vandy leads 10-2. Wideberg gave up four runs and is responsible for one runner.
4:40 - Vandy has bases loaded with 1 out in B7. 2 BB and HBP by Wideberg. Grand slam by Giobbi on 3-2 pitch. Over the tall wall in LF. VU leads 10-2.
4:30 - VU shift on Smaok doesn't work as he singles to CF. But Enders looks at strike three. We go to the B7 with VU leading 6-2. New pitcher for USC - Sean Wideberg. He's thrown 8.1 IP this season with a 4.32 ERA.
4:20 - VU down in order in the B6. We go to the 7th with VU leading 6-2. Havens leads off the T7 with a BB. Here comes the VU coach. Pitching change for Commodores.
4:15 - Rodriguez PH for Mack, who replaced Wingo in the batting order. 2 outs in the T6. Strikeout looking. We go to the B6 with VU leading 6-2.
4:10 - Pitching change for VU here in the T6. 2 outs. One run home. Crisp on first. VU leads 6-2.
4:05 - Darnell steals 2B and goes to 3rd on throwing error by VU catcher. But Lail struckout swinging on the play. Darnell is on 3rd, 1 out. Crisp up. He needs to get the ball to the OF here. There's a base hit to LCF. Darnell scores. It's 6-2 VU.
4:00 - VU out in the B5. It's 6-1 Commodores. Darnell leads off the T6 with a single. He has 2 hits and a walk today.
3:50 - Double and RBI single to open the VU 5th. It's 6-1. There's an errant pickoff throw. Runner to 2nd. Cooper is probably nearing the end here. 6-3 for the first out. Runner stays at second.
3:45 - Havens led off the T5 with a walk but the next 3 batters go out. We go to the B5 with VU leading 5-1.
3:40 - Single to CF. 2 runs score. The ball gets past Merrifield! Runners goes to 3B. It's 5-1 Vandy. VU tries to sqeeze. P-1. Runner is dead duck at 3B. DP. USC is finally out of the inning. VU scored 4 times. We go to the 5th with VU leading 5-1.
:30 - HBP and single to open the VU 4th. Sacrifice bunt. Darnell throws it past 1B! Run scores. Runners ends up on 2&3. Vandy leads 2-1. Base hit to RF past the diving Smoak. VU 3-1. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 0 outs. Two runs home. Stolen base. 2&3 now.
3:20 - Disher K's looking. That hurts. Runners still at 2&3. Wingo up. The ump is walking over to the USC bench. Tanner comes out. There's a heated discussion. We're back to playing baseball. Strike three swinging. The Vandy catcher spikes the ball into the ground. We go to the bottom of thr 4th still tied 1-1.
3:15 - Darnell opens the 4th with a double. That's his third 2-bagger of the season. He came in hitting .262 but has a BB and 2B today. Lail HBP, but the Vandy coach is out arguing. If the call stands, USC will have runners at 1&2, 0 outs. It stands. Crisp up. Sacrifice by Crisp. Runners on 2&3, 1 out. Disher up. Here comes the Vandy PC.
3:10 - Darnell, Lail, Crisp due in the 4th. Cotham still pitching for Vandy.
3:05 - Error by Smoak on the first Vandy batter in the 3rd. But there's a nice 6-4-3 DP. U-3 for the 3rd out. We go to the 4th with the score tied at 1-1.
3:00 - Havensled off the 3rd with a single. Merrifield sacrifices. Controversy here. It looked like Smaok was HBP but ther 3rd base umpire ruled Smoak swung the bat. Strikeout. Dead ball. Havens sent back to 2nd. 1-3 by Enders. That's it. We go to the bottom of the 3rd with the score tied at 1-1.
2:55 - Vandy down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 2nd. We go to the tp of the 3rd with thre score still tied at 1-1. Top of the order for USC - Havens, Merrifield, Smoak.
:45 - USC goes down quietly in the top of the 2nd. 5-3 and 2 K's. We go to the bottom of the 2nd with the score tied at 1-1.
2:40 - We've finally reached the end of the 1st inning. Score tied at 1-1. It took about 35 minutes to play the opening frame. Both teams left 2 runners stranded inthe 1st. Both pitchers threw a bunch of pitches. Hopefully, the pace of the game will pick up here in the 2nd.
2:35 - Big strikeout for Cooper on Giobbi. 2 outs, bases loaded. Wild pitch. Run scores from third. It's tied up at 1-1. Vandy has runenrs at 2&3, 2 outs. Cooper has thrown a lot of pitches here in the 1st.
2:30 - VU has runners on 2&3, 1 out. LD double by Flaherty over 1B. USC did a good job against him Sat. but he's off to a good start here today. Calvi is out to talk to Cooper.
2:20 - Darnell walks. USC has runners at 1&2, 2 0uts in the top of the 1st. Lail up. He strikes out. USC leads 1-0 as we go to the bottom of the 3rd.
2:15 - Base hit by Enders to RF. Runners at 1&3, 2 outs. Darnell up. Wild pitch! Merrifield scores! USC leads 1-0. Enders to 2rd.
2:00 - We're about ready to play baseball. Rubber game between USC and Vandy. The winner claims the series. Havens steps in. F-7 to the tall wall in LF. 1 out. USC is wearing garnet jerseys and gray pants.
1:05 - We're live from Hawkins Field in Nashville for Sunday's rubber game between USC and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks won Saturday, 16-7, with an impresive hitting display. Phil Disher hit a titanic HR that rivaled his blast 2 years ago during the NCAA Regional in Charlottesville. If USC can sustain its run production, they'll be in good shape. Vanderbilt is throwing a RFr. today (Caleb Cotham) making his first SEC start. Here is USC's starting lineup with stats:
Havens - 6 (.379-4 HR-24 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.327-3-8)
Smoak - 3 (.351-3-13)
Enders - 2 (.339-2-14)
Darnell - 5 (.262-2-20)
Lail - 9 (.322-2-13)
Crisp - 7 (.333-0-6)
Disher - DH (.222-4-12)
Wingo - 4 (.242-1-7)
Cooper - P (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 9 K)
USC is completing batting practice right now. Jose Rodriguez hit a couple of bombs over the tall wall in LF. He's a good hitter. If he improves defensively, he'll make an impact next season.
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5:20 - 2-run HR by Smoak in the T9. What a blast. Over the CF. VU now leads 10-4. That's his fourth HR of the season. Unfortunately, it looks like it's not goingto mean much. That's his 43rd career HR, tying him for 5th all-time. We have 2 out in the T9. P-6 ends it. Vandy Wins 10-4.
5:15 - No runs for VU in the B8. WE GO TO THE NINTH with USC losing 10-2. Top of the order due for USC.
5:05 - USC out in the T8 without scoring, though they had 2 runners on. Darnell singled to open the inning for his third hit of the game. We go to the B8 with VU leading, 10-2.
4:55 - VU is finally out in the B7. They send 9 men to the plate and score 4 runs. They lead 10-2 as we to the T8. Darnell, Lail, Crisp due.
4:45 - Wideberg out, Farotto in for USC here in the B7. Vandy leads 10-2. Wideberg gave up four runs and is responsible for one runner.
4:40 - Vandy has bases loaded with 1 out in B7. 2 BB and HBP by Wideberg. Grand slam by Giobbi on 3-2 pitch. Over the tall wall in LF. VU leads 10-2.
4:30 - VU shift on Smaok doesn't work as he singles to CF. But Enders looks at strike three. We go to the B7 with VU leading 6-2. New pitcher for USC - Sean Wideberg. He's thrown 8.1 IP this season with a 4.32 ERA.
4:20 - VU down in order in the B6. We go to the 7th with VU leading 6-2. Havens leads off the T7 with a BB. Here comes the VU coach. Pitching change for Commodores.
4:15 - Rodriguez PH for Mack, who replaced Wingo in the batting order. 2 outs in the T6. Strikeout looking. We go to the B6 with VU leading 6-2.
4:10 - Pitching change for VU here in the T6. 2 outs. One run home. Crisp on first. VU leads 6-2.
4:05 - Darnell steals 2B and goes to 3rd on throwing error by VU catcher. But Lail struckout swinging on the play. Darnell is on 3rd, 1 out. Crisp up. He needs to get the ball to the OF here. There's a base hit to LCF. Darnell scores. It's 6-2 VU.
4:00 - VU out in the B5. It's 6-1 Commodores. Darnell leads off the T6 with a single. He has 2 hits and a walk today.
3:50 - Double and RBI single to open the VU 5th. It's 6-1. There's an errant pickoff throw. Runner to 2nd. Cooper is probably nearing the end here. 6-3 for the first out. Runner stays at second.
3:45 - Havens led off the T5 with a walk but the next 3 batters go out. We go to the B5 with VU leading 5-1.
3:40 - Single to CF. 2 runs score. The ball gets past Merrifield! Runners goes to 3B. It's 5-1 Vandy. VU tries to sqeeze. P-1. Runner is dead duck at 3B. DP. USC is finally out of the inning. VU scored 4 times. We go to the 5th with VU leading 5-1.
:30 - HBP and single to open the VU 4th. Sacrifice bunt. Darnell throws it past 1B! Run scores. Runners ends up on 2&3. Vandy leads 2-1. Base hit to RF past the diving Smoak. VU 3-1. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 0 outs. Two runs home. Stolen base. 2&3 now.
3:20 - Disher K's looking. That hurts. Runners still at 2&3. Wingo up. The ump is walking over to the USC bench. Tanner comes out. There's a heated discussion. We're back to playing baseball. Strike three swinging. The Vandy catcher spikes the ball into the ground. We go to the bottom of thr 4th still tied 1-1.
3:15 - Darnell opens the 4th with a double. That's his third 2-bagger of the season. He came in hitting .262 but has a BB and 2B today. Lail HBP, but the Vandy coach is out arguing. If the call stands, USC will have runners at 1&2, 0 outs. It stands. Crisp up. Sacrifice by Crisp. Runners on 2&3, 1 out. Disher up. Here comes the Vandy PC.
3:10 - Darnell, Lail, Crisp due in the 4th. Cotham still pitching for Vandy.
3:05 - Error by Smoak on the first Vandy batter in the 3rd. But there's a nice 6-4-3 DP. U-3 for the 3rd out. We go to the 4th with the score tied at 1-1.
3:00 - Havensled off the 3rd with a single. Merrifield sacrifices. Controversy here. It looked like Smaok was HBP but ther 3rd base umpire ruled Smoak swung the bat. Strikeout. Dead ball. Havens sent back to 2nd. 1-3 by Enders. That's it. We go to the bottom of the 3rd with the score tied at 1-1.
2:55 - Vandy down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 2nd. We go to the tp of the 3rd with thre score still tied at 1-1. Top of the order for USC - Havens, Merrifield, Smoak.
:45 - USC goes down quietly in the top of the 2nd. 5-3 and 2 K's. We go to the bottom of the 2nd with the score tied at 1-1.
2:40 - We've finally reached the end of the 1st inning. Score tied at 1-1. It took about 35 minutes to play the opening frame. Both teams left 2 runners stranded inthe 1st. Both pitchers threw a bunch of pitches. Hopefully, the pace of the game will pick up here in the 2nd.
2:35 - Big strikeout for Cooper on Giobbi. 2 outs, bases loaded. Wild pitch. Run scores from third. It's tied up at 1-1. Vandy has runenrs at 2&3, 2 outs. Cooper has thrown a lot of pitches here in the 1st.
2:30 - VU has runners on 2&3, 1 out. LD double by Flaherty over 1B. USC did a good job against him Sat. but he's off to a good start here today. Calvi is out to talk to Cooper.
2:20 - Darnell walks. USC has runners at 1&2, 2 0uts in the top of the 1st. Lail up. He strikes out. USC leads 1-0 as we go to the bottom of the 3rd.
2:15 - Base hit by Enders to RF. Runners at 1&3, 2 outs. Darnell up. Wild pitch! Merrifield scores! USC leads 1-0. Enders to 2rd.
2:00 - We're about ready to play baseball. Rubber game between USC and Vandy. The winner claims the series. Havens steps in. F-7 to the tall wall in LF. 1 out. USC is wearing garnet jerseys and gray pants.
1:05 - We're live from Hawkins Field in Nashville for Sunday's rubber game between USC and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks won Saturday, 16-7, with an impresive hitting display. Phil Disher hit a titanic HR that rivaled his blast 2 years ago during the NCAA Regional in Charlottesville. If USC can sustain its run production, they'll be in good shape. Vanderbilt is throwing a RFr. today (Caleb Cotham) making his first SEC start. Here is USC's starting lineup with stats:
Havens - 6 (.379-4 HR-24 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.327-3-8)
Smoak - 3 (.351-3-13)
Enders - 2 (.339-2-14)
Darnell - 5 (.262-2-20)
Lail - 9 (.322-2-13)
Crisp - 7 (.333-0-6)
Disher - DH (.222-4-12)
Wingo - 4 (.242-1-7)
Cooper - P (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 9 K)
USC is completing batting practice right now. Jose Rodriguez hit a couple of bombs over the tall wall in LF. He's a good hitter. If he improves defensively, he'll make an impact next season.
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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 @.