USC-Auburn Game 2 Blog - Sat. 4/12
posted by Scott Hood, Saturday, April 12, 2008
6:35 - Bangs still pitching for USC. 5-3 for the first out in the T9. HBP. Runner on first. Walk. Runners at 1&2. 1 out. Enders out to talk. He came into the game in the 8th. Drama time in Auburn.
6:30 - Runners at 2&3, 2 outs for Smoak. 2-1 count. AU will int. walk him. Bases loaded for Darnell. Wild pitch! Here comes Wingo. The catcher doesn't throw the ball. He scores. It's 8-5 USC. Huge inning. USC has scored all of its runs fromthe fifth inning on. AU led, 3-0 in the T5. But that was a long time ago. Darnell K's. WE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC AHEAD 8-5.
6:25 - USC tries the suicide squeeze! It works. Merrifield gets the ball down. Run scores. It's 7-5 USC. Big run right there.
6:20 - Wingo walks. Runners at the corners. Havens up. USC has 10 hit today. Havens walks. Bases loaded for Merrifield. 1 out. USC can break it open right here. Here comes the AU coach. New pitcher for AU. Bryan Woodall.
6:15 - Bangs leads off the T9 with a linesingle to LF. The AU LF dove but couldn't comeup with it. Crisp up. He may be bunting here. He does. Foul. There's the bunt. 1-4 sac. Bangs to second. Wingo up. USC would love to get an insurance run here. Wild pitch! Bangs to third.
6:10 - F-8 for the second out. F-7 for the third out. Bangs does the job. Thiskid is going to be a player. GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 6-5.
6:05 - After taking the lead for the first time, USC goes to the bullpen in the B8. Parker Bangs is now pitching. USC loses the DH. Bangs had 2 K's in 1.0 IP last night. Atwood went 7.0 IP, 123 pitches. P-4 for 1st out. 5 outs to go. Can USC pull out the win?
6:00 - Merrifield K's to lead off the T8. Smoak up, batting LH for the first time today. 6-3 for the second out. Darnell singles through the box into CF. Disher up. He has a HR today. This AU pitcher throws a lot of fastballs, which is good for Disher. There it goes! HR over the LF wall!! USC LEADS 6-5!! Wow.
5:55 - It took sevwral minutes but Atwood finally struckout the last batter for the final out in the B7. We go to the T8 with USC trailing, 5-4. Merrifield, Smoak, Darnell due.
5:50 - Alabama beats Tennessee, 11-10, in the first game of a DH, so for the time being there's a 3-way tie for third at 7-6 between USC, UT and UK. UK is losing big to UGA today. There's a WP on strike three. Runners goes to 1st base. 2 outs here in the B7.
5:45 - Nothing for USC after Bang's leadoff HR. We go to the B7 with USC trailing, 5-4.
5:40 - Bangs leads off the T7. He wallops one to LF. Will it stay fair? Yes! It'sover the tall wall for a solo homer. First career HR for Bangs. It's 5-4 AU. That's the fifth HR of the game, third by USC. Here comes the AU coach. Pitching change.
5:35 - The strategy of moving the infield in works with a U-3. 2 outs. Runner at 3B. Here comes Calvi. No change. Another U-3. Atwood keeps the run from scoring, but AU takes a 5-3 lead on the HR and 2B. We go to the T7.
5:32 - There's another run for AU on a single and double. It's 5-3 AU in the B6. The Tigers now have a runner at third with 1 out. USC infield is in.
5:30 - The game wasn't tied for long. Atwood fell behind the first batter 3-0 and had to throw a strike at 3-1. The pitch was walloped over the tall wall in LF. It's 4-3 AU.
5:25 - Disher K's and Lail F-7 with Smoak at 2B. The score is tied at 3-3 as we go to the B6. Atwood still pitching for USC.
5:20 - Single by Smoak to RF. Merrifield goes to 3rd. Tying run in 90 feet away. Darnell up. Soft grounder to second. It's enough to score Merrifield. It's now 3-3 with Smoak on second. Disher up. He homered the last time.
5:17 - Havens steps in. He belts the first pitch to deep RF. It's into the USC bullpen for a homerun! 11th HR of the season. USC now trails just 3-2. Merrifield follows with a single. Smoak up with the tying run at first. Here comes the AU coach.
5:15 - 1-3-4 on pickoff/caught stealing to end the B5. We goto the T6 with USC trailing, 3-1. Havens, Merrifield and Smoak due.
5:10 - Atwood continues to pitch well here into the B5. But, just as I say that, there's a smash up the middle for a base hit. That's the third hit of the game for AU.
5:05 - Crisp lines a 2-out single to LF. Let's see if USC can do anything with it. Wingo up. Nope. F-9. We go to the B5 with USC trailing, 3-1. USC has 3 hits, AU 2 hits. But the Tigers have a 2-run 2B and a HR.
5:00 - Disher steps in here in the T5. He belts one to CF.It bags off the backsrop for a HR! USC is finally on the board. It's 3-1 AU. Lail P-6, 1 out in T5.
4:57 - 6-3 for 3rd out in B4. We go to the T5 with USC trailing, 3-0. Disher, Lail, Bangs due. Time to get the bats going.
4:55 - Leadoff HR to RF for AU in the B4 make it 3-0. Atwood had retired 7 in a row. He's made 2 bad pitches in this game. Other than that, he's pitching well. But USC needs to get the bats going to have a chance in this one. 2 outs in B4. F-8, 4-3.
4:50 - Another 1-2-3 inning for USC in T4. They can't do anything right now with AU's Cory Luckie, who has set down 12 in a row. Nice play by the AU 2B on a ball hit by Darnell for the third out. We go to the B4 with the score still 2-0 AU.
4:45 - Two K's to open the B3 for Atwood. F-8 to deep CF. Caught by Merrifield at thge wall. Atwood has retired 7 in a row. We go to the T4 with USC trailing, 2-0.
4:35 - Crisp, Wingo, Havens due. Here's a F-7. All seven outs have been in the air for USC. 4 popups to the infield and 3 flyouts. Wingo K's. Havens L-8. Hit the ball well but right at the AU CF. That's 9 in a row by the Auburn P. We go to the B3 with AU leading 2-0.
4:30 - 1-2-3 for AU in B2. Two lineouts to 2B and 3B. We go to the T3 with AU still leading, 2-0.
4:27 - Quiet T2 for USC. P-3, F-8, P-3. We go to the B2 with AU ahead, 2-0.
4:25 - Atwood finally gets out of the B1 with a K. But the damage is done with 2 runs in. We go to the T2 with USC trailing, 2-0. Disher leads off and pops to st onthe first pitch. Lail up.
4:22 - Double down the 3B line. Two runs score. It's 2-0 AU. USC will have to come from behind in this one.
4:20 - Walk on 3-2 pitch. AU now has runners on 1&2, 1 out. Tanner out for a visit with Atwood. He's struggling a bit right now. AU's cleanup hiter is up. P-5. Infield Fly Rule. Big out there. 2 outs in B1.
4:15 - We're in the B1. Atwood hit the first AU batter, 1-3 sacrifice. AU has runner at 2B, 1 out.
4:05 - Swinging at 3-0, Smoak fouls out to the catcher near the screen. 2 outs. Darnell up. Foul out to catcher. The AU 1B collided with a USC manager down there. We go to the bottom of the 1st with the score 0-0.
4:00 - Havens steps in. We're underway here at Auburn. Base hit to center. Good start for the Gamecocks.
3:35 - Here is today's starting lineup for USC wih current stats:
Havens - 6 (.371-10 HR-38 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.270-3-14)
Smoak - 3 (.361-10-29)
Darnell - 5 (.331-12-46)
Disher - 2 (.284-10-31)
Lail - 9 (.303-2-17)
Bangs - DH (.400-0-1)
Crisp - 7 (.311-1-13)
Wingo - 4 (.237-1-7)
Atwood - P (3-1, 3.71 ERA, 34.0 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 17 BB, 30 K, .212 BA)
Bangs was on the mound for one of the most sequences of last night's game - pickoff and tw strikeouts that quelled a potential Auburn uprising. He has five AB thi season with two hits. I know Tanner loves his potential.
3:25 - We're live from Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. for Game 2 of the USC-Auburn series. In case you missed it, the Gamecocks pulled out a thrilling 7-6 victory in Game 1 Friday night by scoring a run in the top of the ninth. The game ended with a double play grounder in the bottom of the 9th. USC enters today's game with a 7-6 conference record. They're tied for fourth with Kentucky, one-half game behind Tennessee, which is currently trailing Alabama, 6-2 in the 4th. Florida is second a 8-5, while Georgia has a 2-game lead at 10-3. UGA nipped UK last night, 3-2, while UF lost to Arkansas, 2-1. Will Atwood is the scheduled starting pitcher for USC. Both teams have completed batting practice and USC is now taking infield practice. We're 35 minutes from first pitch.
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6:40 - Pressure on Bangs here. Liner to RF. But it's right at Lail. 2 outs. AU's leadoff hitter is up. Bouncing single to RF. Run scores. It's 8-6. Bangs stays in. Hall up for AU, the No. 2 hitter. 2-0. Strike. 2-1. Ball 3-1. Goo hitter's pitch right here. Foul. 3-2. Runner on 1st will be breaking, so ball in the alley couls score tying run. STrike 3!!!! USC WINS 8-6!!!!
6:35 - Bangs still pitching for USC. 5-3 for the first out in the T9. HBP. Runner on first. Walk. Runners at 1&2. 1 out. Enders out to talk. He came into the game in the 8th. Drama time in Auburn.
6:30 - Runners at 2&3, 2 outs for Smoak. 2-1 count. AU will int. walk him. Bases loaded for Darnell. Wild pitch! Here comes Wingo. The catcher doesn't throw the ball. He scores. It's 8-5 USC. Huge inning. USC has scored all of its runs fromthe fifth inning on. AU led, 3-0 in the T5. But that was a long time ago. Darnell K's. WE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC AHEAD 8-5.
6:25 - USC tries the suicide squeeze! It works. Merrifield gets the ball down. Run scores. It's 7-5 USC. Big run right there.
6:20 - Wingo walks. Runners at the corners. Havens up. USC has 10 hit today. Havens walks. Bases loaded for Merrifield. 1 out. USC can break it open right here. Here comes the AU coach. New pitcher for AU. Bryan Woodall.
6:15 - Bangs leads off the T9 with a linesingle to LF. The AU LF dove but couldn't comeup with it. Crisp up. He may be bunting here. He does. Foul. There's the bunt. 1-4 sac. Bangs to second. Wingo up. USC would love to get an insurance run here. Wild pitch! Bangs to third.
6:10 - F-8 for the second out. F-7 for the third out. Bangs does the job. Thiskid is going to be a player. GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 6-5.
6:05 - After taking the lead for the first time, USC goes to the bullpen in the B8. Parker Bangs is now pitching. USC loses the DH. Bangs had 2 K's in 1.0 IP last night. Atwood went 7.0 IP, 123 pitches. P-4 for 1st out. 5 outs to go. Can USC pull out the win?
6:00 - Merrifield K's to lead off the T8. Smoak up, batting LH for the first time today. 6-3 for the second out. Darnell singles through the box into CF. Disher up. He has a HR today. This AU pitcher throws a lot of fastballs, which is good for Disher. There it goes! HR over the LF wall!! USC LEADS 6-5!! Wow.
5:55 - It took sevwral minutes but Atwood finally struckout the last batter for the final out in the B7. We go to the T8 with USC trailing, 5-4. Merrifield, Smoak, Darnell due.
5:50 - Alabama beats Tennessee, 11-10, in the first game of a DH, so for the time being there's a 3-way tie for third at 7-6 between USC, UT and UK. UK is losing big to UGA today. There's a WP on strike three. Runners goes to 1st base. 2 outs here in the B7.
5:45 - Nothing for USC after Bang's leadoff HR. We go to the B7 with USC trailing, 5-4.
5:40 - Bangs leads off the T7. He wallops one to LF. Will it stay fair? Yes! It'sover the tall wall for a solo homer. First career HR for Bangs. It's 5-4 AU. That's the fifth HR of the game, third by USC. Here comes the AU coach. Pitching change.
5:35 - The strategy of moving the infield in works with a U-3. 2 outs. Runner at 3B. Here comes Calvi. No change. Another U-3. Atwood keeps the run from scoring, but AU takes a 5-3 lead on the HR and 2B. We go to the T7.
5:32 - There's another run for AU on a single and double. It's 5-3 AU in the B6. The Tigers now have a runner at third with 1 out. USC infield is in.
5:30 - The game wasn't tied for long. Atwood fell behind the first batter 3-0 and had to throw a strike at 3-1. The pitch was walloped over the tall wall in LF. It's 4-3 AU.
5:25 - Disher K's and Lail F-7 with Smoak at 2B. The score is tied at 3-3 as we go to the B6. Atwood still pitching for USC.
5:20 - Single by Smoak to RF. Merrifield goes to 3rd. Tying run in 90 feet away. Darnell up. Soft grounder to second. It's enough to score Merrifield. It's now 3-3 with Smoak on second. Disher up. He homered the last time.
5:17 - Havens steps in. He belts the first pitch to deep RF. It's into the USC bullpen for a homerun! 11th HR of the season. USC now trails just 3-2. Merrifield follows with a single. Smoak up with the tying run at first. Here comes the AU coach.
5:15 - 1-3-4 on pickoff/caught stealing to end the B5. We goto the T6 with USC trailing, 3-1. Havens, Merrifield and Smoak due.
5:10 - Atwood continues to pitch well here into the B5. But, just as I say that, there's a smash up the middle for a base hit. That's the third hit of the game for AU.
5:05 - Crisp lines a 2-out single to LF. Let's see if USC can do anything with it. Wingo up. Nope. F-9. We go to the B5 with USC trailing, 3-1. USC has 3 hits, AU 2 hits. But the Tigers have a 2-run 2B and a HR.
5:00 - Disher steps in here in the T5. He belts one to CF.It bags off the backsrop for a HR! USC is finally on the board. It's 3-1 AU. Lail P-6, 1 out in T5.
4:57 - 6-3 for 3rd out in B4. We go to the T5 with USC trailing, 3-0. Disher, Lail, Bangs due. Time to get the bats going.
4:55 - Leadoff HR to RF for AU in the B4 make it 3-0. Atwood had retired 7 in a row. He's made 2 bad pitches in this game. Other than that, he's pitching well. But USC needs to get the bats going to have a chance in this one. 2 outs in B4. F-8, 4-3.
4:50 - Another 1-2-3 inning for USC in T4. They can't do anything right now with AU's Cory Luckie, who has set down 12 in a row. Nice play by the AU 2B on a ball hit by Darnell for the third out. We go to the B4 with the score still 2-0 AU.
4:45 - Two K's to open the B3 for Atwood. F-8 to deep CF. Caught by Merrifield at thge wall. Atwood has retired 7 in a row. We go to the T4 with USC trailing, 2-0.
4:35 - Crisp, Wingo, Havens due. Here's a F-7. All seven outs have been in the air for USC. 4 popups to the infield and 3 flyouts. Wingo K's. Havens L-8. Hit the ball well but right at the AU CF. That's 9 in a row by the Auburn P. We go to the B3 with AU leading 2-0.
4:30 - 1-2-3 for AU in B2. Two lineouts to 2B and 3B. We go to the T3 with AU still leading, 2-0.
4:27 - Quiet T2 for USC. P-3, F-8, P-3. We go to the B2 with AU ahead, 2-0.
4:25 - Atwood finally gets out of the B1 with a K. But the damage is done with 2 runs in. We go to the T2 with USC trailing, 2-0. Disher leads off and pops to st onthe first pitch. Lail up.
4:22 - Double down the 3B line. Two runs score. It's 2-0 AU. USC will have to come from behind in this one.
4:20 - Walk on 3-2 pitch. AU now has runners on 1&2, 1 out. Tanner out for a visit with Atwood. He's struggling a bit right now. AU's cleanup hiter is up. P-5. Infield Fly Rule. Big out there. 2 outs in B1.
4:15 - We're in the B1. Atwood hit the first AU batter, 1-3 sacrifice. AU has runner at 2B, 1 out.
4:05 - Swinging at 3-0, Smoak fouls out to the catcher near the screen. 2 outs. Darnell up. Foul out to catcher. The AU 1B collided with a USC manager down there. We go to the bottom of the 1st with the score 0-0.
4:00 - Havens steps in. We're underway here at Auburn. Base hit to center. Good start for the Gamecocks.
3:35 - Here is today's starting lineup for USC wih current stats:
Havens - 6 (.371-10 HR-38 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.270-3-14)
Smoak - 3 (.361-10-29)
Darnell - 5 (.331-12-46)
Disher - 2 (.284-10-31)
Lail - 9 (.303-2-17)
Bangs - DH (.400-0-1)
Crisp - 7 (.311-1-13)
Wingo - 4 (.237-1-7)
Atwood - P (3-1, 3.71 ERA, 34.0 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 17 BB, 30 K, .212 BA)
Bangs was on the mound for one of the most sequences of last night's game - pickoff and tw strikeouts that quelled a potential Auburn uprising. He has five AB thi season with two hits. I know Tanner loves his potential.
3:25 - We're live from Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. for Game 2 of the USC-Auburn series. In case you missed it, the Gamecocks pulled out a thrilling 7-6 victory in Game 1 Friday night by scoring a run in the top of the ninth. The game ended with a double play grounder in the bottom of the 9th. USC enters today's game with a 7-6 conference record. They're tied for fourth with Kentucky, one-half game behind Tennessee, which is currently trailing Alabama, 6-2 in the 4th. Florida is second a 8-5, while Georgia has a 2-game lead at 10-3. UGA nipped UK last night, 3-2, while UF lost to Arkansas, 2-1. Will Atwood is the scheduled starting pitcher for USC. Both teams have completed batting practice and USC is now taking infield practice. We're 35 minutes from first pitch.
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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 @.