USC-Auburn Game 1 Blog - Fri. 4/11
posted by Scott Hood, Friday, April 11, 2008
9:50 - Leadoff single foe AU. Liner to short! Havens snags it. Throw to first. Safe. But just barely. There's another single to RF. 2 runners on, 1 out. Calvi is out. Todd stays in. Nail-biting time here in Auburn.
9:45 - Smoak drives one to RCF. It's caught. We go to the B9 with USC leading 7-6. This would be a huge win if the Gamecocks hold on. Todd pitching for USC.
9:40 - Here we go. Merrifield up. Grounder to 3rd. Forceout at 2B. But they can't turn the DP! Run scores! USC leads 7-6. 2 outs in the 9th. Smoak up.
9:37 - That might be the ugliest hit and run ever but it works! Havens dribbles one through the hole into LF. The SS had moved to cover the bag. Wingo goes to third. Merifield up. Here comes the AU coach. USC has runners at 1&3, 1 out. New pitcher for AU.
9:35 - Crisp leads off the T9. Strikeout. He waves at apitch well outside. Wingo now up. He came into the game last inning on defense.
9:30 - Clutch 2-out single has tied the score at 6-6 here in the B8. AU has runner at 2B, 2 outs. Stolen base a few moments ago. 4-3 groundout. It's tied at 6-6 as WE GO TO THE NINTH. USC has 9 hits, AU 11.
9:25 - Todd walks the leadoff hitter inthe B8. That hurts. There's a sac. bunt. Runner at 2B, 1 out. Todd has to bear down here.
9:15 - One out double by Disher is wasted in the T8. We go to the B8 with USC leading 6-5. Brandon Todd is the new pitcher for USC, replacing Bangs. Here we go. USC needs 6 outs.
9:05 - Another strikeout! Great job by Bangs. USC is out of the inning. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 6-5.
9:02 - Enders picks the runner off second! Unbelievable. What a baserunning blunder by AU. 1 out, runner on 1st. Strikeout. 2 outs. That pickoff could be the play of the game if this score holds up. Bangs has a wicked curveball. Lots of movement.
9:00 - Bad start to the B7 for USC. Walk, passed ball, hit by pitch and RBI single have made it 6-5 with 0 outs. Here comes Tanner. There's the signal to the bullpen. Parker Bangs is the new pitcher. He has to protect this lead.
8:55 - USC down 1-2-3 in T7. It's still 6-4 USC going to the B7.
8:50 - Great play by Crisp to end the B6 on a chopper to 2B. AU ends up scoring 1 run. It's 6-4 USC as we head to the T7.
8:45 - Cisco has been knocked out of the game here in the 6th inning. AU has scored 1 run and has runners at 1&2 with 2 outs. 5.2 IP, 9 hits for Cisco. He threw 99 pitches. Craig Thomas is the new pitcher. It's 6-4 USC.
8:38 - USC scores twice in the T6 to take a 6-3 lead. Cisco is still pitching for USC.
8:30 - Wild pitch! Darnell scores. It's 5-3. Lail up. Single to RF! Disher scores. It's 6-3. Good inning for USC. Still nobody out. Enders up.
8:25 - USC is in good shape here in the T6 with an error on a ball hit by Darnell and a double to LF by Disher. 2&3, 0 outs. They lead 4-3.
8:20 - AU got 2 runners on base with a single and walk in the B5, but the Tigers didn't score. We go to the T6 with USC leading 4-3.
8:10 - USC down 1-2-3 in T5 on three groundouts. We go to the B5 with USC ahead, 4-3.
8:05 - AU down 1-2-3 in the B4. We go to the 5th with USC ahead, 4-3.
8:00 - Crisp singles with 2 outs in T4. That's 2 hits for him. F-8 for the 3rd out. Six of USC's 12 outs so far have been fly balls to the OF.
7:53 - Cisco is finally out of the B3 after AU scores 2 runs. The second run scored on a double past Smoak down the RF line. USC leads 4-3 as we go to the T4. Lots of runs so far. The two teams have also combined for 11 hits through 3 Inn.
7:50 - SF to RF for Auburn. It's 4-2, 2 outs and runner at 3B. Tanner is out to talk with Cisco.
:45 - AU has runenrs at 2&3 with 1 out here in the B3. They just compeleted a double steal. It appeared the runner at 3B may have been out, but he was ruled safe. Tanner is out. But he loses the argument. Cico has to bear down here. Tanner is now talking with the home plate umpire.
7:40 - Disher 5-3 for the 3rd out. We go to the B3 with USC leading 4-1. Smoak has 2 hits and 2 RBI for USC. He now has 29 RBI. There's a bouncer up the middle. Great diving stop by Havens. Throw to first. Just safe. Nice try by Havens.
7:37 - Single to CF by Smoak! Merrifield scores from 2B. It's 4-1 USC. Gamecocks have 5 hits now. Darnell up. He strikes out. 2 out.
7:35 - Merrifield doubles down 3B line for his first two-bagger of the season and just his 5th extra-base hit of the season. Runner on 2nd, 1 out.
7:30 - Enders guns down another runner trying to steal. That ends the B2. We go to the third with USC leading 3-1. Both teams have 3 hits. The difference right now is Crisp's 2-run HR.
7:25 - Crisp's HR was the first of the year for him. Solo HR for Auburn here in the B2. USC now leads 3-1. We've found out already that the ball can really jump out of here. Three homers in the game so far.
7:20 - Kyle Enders doubles with 2 outs. Crisp up. There's a drive to LF. It's over the tall wall in LF. Home run! USC leads 3-0. Great start for the Gamecocks. 6-3 for third out. We go to the B2 with USC leading 3-0.
7;15 - AU has runner at 2B, 2 outs here in B1. AU's cleanup hitter is up. Foul out to RF. USC leads 1-0 as we go to the T2.
7:10 - Darnell F-9. We go to the bottom of the 1st with USC leading 1-0. USC is 11-4 this season when it scores in the 1st inning and 17-5 when it scores first. We'll see how this one goes. The first batter for AU inthe B1 just singled.
7:05 - Smoak up. There it goes. Deep drive to LCF! Off the scoreboard! It's gone! Home run! New school record for Smoak! USC leads 1-0. 10th of the season and 49th of his career by Smoak. It came on a 0-2 pitch. 3 straight games with a HR by Smoak.
7:00 - We're underway here at Auburn. Reese Havens steps in. Auburn P is Grant Dayton, a freshman LHP. Havens strikes out looking on 3-2 pitch. 1-3 comebacker by Merrifield. 2 outs.
6:45 - We're about 15 minutes from the first pitch. There are several dozen USC fans here. Most of them are located down the RF line next to the USC dugout. This might be a late arriving crowd since it's starting at 6 p.m. local time. Right now it's pretty sparse.
6:30: Here is USC's starting lineup for Game 1:
Havens - 6 (.378-10 HR-38 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.274-3-13)
Smoak - 3 (.359-9-27)
Darnell - 5 (.341-12-46)
Disher - DH (.277-10-31)
Lail - 9 (.305-2-16)
Enders - 2 (.301-5-21)
Crisp - 4 (.303-0-11)
Hopper - 7 (.243-0-3)
Cisco - P (4-1, 4.30 ERA, 44.0 IP, 51 hits, 21 runs, 9 BB, 28 K)
This is the third game in which Smoak is batting third and Darnell fourth.
6:20 - We're here live at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. for this weekend's 3-game series between USC and Auburn. This is a huge series because both teams come in 6-6, meaning one of these two teams is going to leave here with a below .500 mark in the SEC and neither school wants that right now. USC trails UGA by 3 games in the SEC East standings, and they can't afford to fall back any further considering this weekend represents the halfway point of the SEC schedule. Here's the biggest difference between the SEC East and West this seaosn. USC's 6-6 league mark places it in fifth place in the East, while Auburn's 6-6 mark is good enough for second place in the West. Four of the six West teams are below .500 in the league.
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9:55 - 4-6-3 DP!! USC WINS 7-6!!!!!
9:50 - Leadoff single foe AU. Liner to short! Havens snags it. Throw to first. Safe. But just barely. There's another single to RF. 2 runners on, 1 out. Calvi is out. Todd stays in. Nail-biting time here in Auburn.
9:45 - Smoak drives one to RCF. It's caught. We go to the B9 with USC leading 7-6. This would be a huge win if the Gamecocks hold on. Todd pitching for USC.
9:40 - Here we go. Merrifield up. Grounder to 3rd. Forceout at 2B. But they can't turn the DP! Run scores! USC leads 7-6. 2 outs in the 9th. Smoak up.
9:37 - That might be the ugliest hit and run ever but it works! Havens dribbles one through the hole into LF. The SS had moved to cover the bag. Wingo goes to third. Merifield up. Here comes the AU coach. USC has runners at 1&3, 1 out. New pitcher for AU.
9:35 - Crisp leads off the T9. Strikeout. He waves at apitch well outside. Wingo now up. He came into the game last inning on defense.
9:30 - Clutch 2-out single has tied the score at 6-6 here in the B8. AU has runner at 2B, 2 outs. Stolen base a few moments ago. 4-3 groundout. It's tied at 6-6 as WE GO TO THE NINTH. USC has 9 hits, AU 11.
9:25 - Todd walks the leadoff hitter inthe B8. That hurts. There's a sac. bunt. Runner at 2B, 1 out. Todd has to bear down here.
9:15 - One out double by Disher is wasted in the T8. We go to the B8 with USC leading 6-5. Brandon Todd is the new pitcher for USC, replacing Bangs. Here we go. USC needs 6 outs.
9:05 - Another strikeout! Great job by Bangs. USC is out of the inning. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 6-5.
9:02 - Enders picks the runner off second! Unbelievable. What a baserunning blunder by AU. 1 out, runner on 1st. Strikeout. 2 outs. That pickoff could be the play of the game if this score holds up. Bangs has a wicked curveball. Lots of movement.
9:00 - Bad start to the B7 for USC. Walk, passed ball, hit by pitch and RBI single have made it 6-5 with 0 outs. Here comes Tanner. There's the signal to the bullpen. Parker Bangs is the new pitcher. He has to protect this lead.
8:55 - USC down 1-2-3 in T7. It's still 6-4 USC going to the B7.
8:50 - Great play by Crisp to end the B6 on a chopper to 2B. AU ends up scoring 1 run. It's 6-4 USC as we head to the T7.
8:45 - Cisco has been knocked out of the game here in the 6th inning. AU has scored 1 run and has runners at 1&2 with 2 outs. 5.2 IP, 9 hits for Cisco. He threw 99 pitches. Craig Thomas is the new pitcher. It's 6-4 USC.
8:38 - USC scores twice in the T6 to take a 6-3 lead. Cisco is still pitching for USC.
8:30 - Wild pitch! Darnell scores. It's 5-3. Lail up. Single to RF! Disher scores. It's 6-3. Good inning for USC. Still nobody out. Enders up.
8:25 - USC is in good shape here in the T6 with an error on a ball hit by Darnell and a double to LF by Disher. 2&3, 0 outs. They lead 4-3.
8:20 - AU got 2 runners on base with a single and walk in the B5, but the Tigers didn't score. We go to the T6 with USC leading 4-3.
8:10 - USC down 1-2-3 in T5 on three groundouts. We go to the B5 with USC ahead, 4-3.
8:05 - AU down 1-2-3 in the B4. We go to the 5th with USC ahead, 4-3.
8:00 - Crisp singles with 2 outs in T4. That's 2 hits for him. F-8 for the 3rd out. Six of USC's 12 outs so far have been fly balls to the OF.
7:53 - Cisco is finally out of the B3 after AU scores 2 runs. The second run scored on a double past Smoak down the RF line. USC leads 4-3 as we go to the T4. Lots of runs so far. The two teams have also combined for 11 hits through 3 Inn.
7:50 - SF to RF for Auburn. It's 4-2, 2 outs and runner at 3B. Tanner is out to talk with Cisco.
:45 - AU has runenrs at 2&3 with 1 out here in the B3. They just compeleted a double steal. It appeared the runner at 3B may have been out, but he was ruled safe. Tanner is out. But he loses the argument. Cico has to bear down here. Tanner is now talking with the home plate umpire.
7:40 - Disher 5-3 for the 3rd out. We go to the B3 with USC leading 4-1. Smoak has 2 hits and 2 RBI for USC. He now has 29 RBI. There's a bouncer up the middle. Great diving stop by Havens. Throw to first. Just safe. Nice try by Havens.
7:37 - Single to CF by Smoak! Merrifield scores from 2B. It's 4-1 USC. Gamecocks have 5 hits now. Darnell up. He strikes out. 2 out.
7:35 - Merrifield doubles down 3B line for his first two-bagger of the season and just his 5th extra-base hit of the season. Runner on 2nd, 1 out.
7:30 - Enders guns down another runner trying to steal. That ends the B2. We go to the third with USC leading 3-1. Both teams have 3 hits. The difference right now is Crisp's 2-run HR.
7:25 - Crisp's HR was the first of the year for him. Solo HR for Auburn here in the B2. USC now leads 3-1. We've found out already that the ball can really jump out of here. Three homers in the game so far.
7:20 - Kyle Enders doubles with 2 outs. Crisp up. There's a drive to LF. It's over the tall wall in LF. Home run! USC leads 3-0. Great start for the Gamecocks. 6-3 for third out. We go to the B2 with USC leading 3-0.
7;15 - AU has runner at 2B, 2 outs here in B1. AU's cleanup hitter is up. Foul out to RF. USC leads 1-0 as we go to the T2.
7:10 - Darnell F-9. We go to the bottom of the 1st with USC leading 1-0. USC is 11-4 this season when it scores in the 1st inning and 17-5 when it scores first. We'll see how this one goes. The first batter for AU inthe B1 just singled.
7:05 - Smoak up. There it goes. Deep drive to LCF! Off the scoreboard! It's gone! Home run! New school record for Smoak! USC leads 1-0. 10th of the season and 49th of his career by Smoak. It came on a 0-2 pitch. 3 straight games with a HR by Smoak.
7:00 - We're underway here at Auburn. Reese Havens steps in. Auburn P is Grant Dayton, a freshman LHP. Havens strikes out looking on 3-2 pitch. 1-3 comebacker by Merrifield. 2 outs.
6:45 - We're about 15 minutes from the first pitch. There are several dozen USC fans here. Most of them are located down the RF line next to the USC dugout. This might be a late arriving crowd since it's starting at 6 p.m. local time. Right now it's pretty sparse.
6:30: Here is USC's starting lineup for Game 1:
Havens - 6 (.378-10 HR-38 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.274-3-13)
Smoak - 3 (.359-9-27)
Darnell - 5 (.341-12-46)
Disher - DH (.277-10-31)
Lail - 9 (.305-2-16)
Enders - 2 (.301-5-21)
Crisp - 4 (.303-0-11)
Hopper - 7 (.243-0-3)
Cisco - P (4-1, 4.30 ERA, 44.0 IP, 51 hits, 21 runs, 9 BB, 28 K)
This is the third game in which Smoak is batting third and Darnell fourth.
6:20 - We're here live at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. for this weekend's 3-game series between USC and Auburn. This is a huge series because both teams come in 6-6, meaning one of these two teams is going to leave here with a below .500 mark in the SEC and neither school wants that right now. USC trails UGA by 3 games in the SEC East standings, and they can't afford to fall back any further considering this weekend represents the halfway point of the SEC schedule. Here's the biggest difference between the SEC East and West this seaosn. USC's 6-6 league mark places it in fifth place in the East, while Auburn's 6-6 mark is good enough for second place in the West. Four of the six West teams are below .500 in the league.
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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 @.