Raleigh Regional - Day 2 (USC-NC St. Updates)
posted by Scott Hood on Saturday, May 31, 2008
10:05 - WE GO TO THE TOP OF THE NINTH WITH USC TRAILING, 5-4.
10:00 - New pitcher for USC is Jordan Costner. This marks his first appearance since May 15 against UT when he hurled 1 inn. Overall, this is his third appearance in May.
9:55 - Bangs 4-6-3 DP ends the T8. USC has 3 outs remaining. And new pitcher Craig Thomas has to keep NCS off the scoreboard here in the B8. We go to the B8 with NCS leading, 5-4.
9:45 - NCS bunched together 4 straight singles off Todd to score thre go-ahead run here in the B7. But DeAngelo Mack gunned down another would-be scorer with a middile from left. It might have been one of the best throws made by a USC OF this season. Great throw. But NCS leads, 5-4. USC has six outs to score at least the tying run.
9:32 - Darnell makes contact for the first time tonight, but it's a grounder right at the NCS SS. 6-4 FC at 2B. We go to the B7 with the score tied at 4-4.
9:30 - We have third pitching change of the inning for NCS. There are 2 outs, runners at 1&2. Smoak F-9. Hit will score the go-ahead run. Darnell is up and he's K'd 3 times tonight. USC needs a clutch hit right here.
9:20 - We have the second pitching change of the inning for NCS in the T7. USC has runners at 1&2 with 1 out. Merrifield just walked. Smoak is up. The score is tied at 4-4.
9:10 - We have a tie game at 4-4 here in Raleigh. Todd K'd the first batter he faced but uncorked a wild pitch to allow the tying run to score. We go to the T7 with USC and NCS tied at 4-4.
9:00 - We have a pitching change for USC here in the B6. NCS has two runners in scoring position with 1 out. Brandon Todd is the new USC pitcher, replacing Godwin, who worked 5 innings. USC leads 4-3, so Todd has his work cut out for him to keep the runners from scoring.
8:50 - USC has taken a 4-3 lead here in the T6!! Bloop single by Crisp scores the go-ahead run with 2 outs. But Bangs was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The tying run previously scored on a throwing error by the NCS SS. Disher started the 2-out uprising by singling with 2 outs for his first hit of the game. Mack then walked. Then came the error and single. James Darnell has K'd three times tonight, so he's struggling against Shunick. He must be trying to pull everything and that's not a good strategy against a pitcher with a wicked splitter and slider.
8:35 - NCS's Jeremy Synan fanned to end the B5 and must have said something to the umpire becuase he was immediately ejected. NCS had a paiur of base-runenrs reach but no runs scored. We go to the T6 with NCS leading, 3-2. We have some controversy here in Raleigh. The NCS coach was engaged in a heated conversation with the umpre, but we're back to playing baseball.
8:25 - Whit Merrifield's third hit of the game scored Wingo to make it 3-2 but the freshman from Advance, NC was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. But the run counted. Mack's HR means USC has homered in 21 straight games. Wingo reached on a HBP.
8:10 - After allowing the first 2 batters of the inning to reach base, Godwin got a foul pop on a bunt attempt. But the next batter dumped a single into LF to score a run to make it 3-1 NCS. That's where we stand heading to the T5. USC has 5 hits, NCS 4. The Wolfpack have done a better job, though, of taking advantage of their opportunities so far. NCS left 2 runners stranded.
8:05 - DeAngelo Mack does it again!! He blasted a 2-out, solo HR to RF to narrow NCS's lead to 2-1 in the T4. It was Mack's second HR of the NCAA Tourney, as he had an opposite field, 3-run shot in the first inning of Friday's 15-8 win over Charlotte. We go to the B4 with USC trailing, 2-1.
7:55 - NC State has extended its lead to 2-0 here in the B3 and the same guy who hit the HR, Dallas Poulk, delivered again with a RBI single. But Godwin proceeded to pick him off first, his 9th pick-off of the seaon. He has a great move to first base for a RHP. It's 2-0 NCS heading to the T4.
7:50 - Here are a couple of scores to pass along: Miami beat Missouri, 6-5; UNC beat UNC Wilmington, 5-1; Arkansas was eliminated with a 5-1 loss to Stanford. 2 SEC teams are now gone from the NCAA Tourney. Frankly, the SEC has to pick the pace and start winning some games.
7:45 - In the T3, Merrifield picks up his second hit of the night with a hard single into LF. That brought up Smoak, who hit a hard grounder right at the NCS 2B. He started a 4-6-3 DP. That's it for USC in the T3. We go to the B3 with NCS leading, 1-0. USC has 4 hits so far but nothing to show for it. This one is settling into a low-scoring game. Runs will be hard to come by.
7:40 - Very good B2 for Godwin. He records 2 K's and a 6-3. He's retired six in a row since the leadoff HR in the B1. We go to the T3 with NCS leading 1-0. USC has to start taking advantage of its opportunities. They have 3 LOB in the first 2 Inn.
7:30 - USC let a good scoring opportunity slip away in the T2. Mack led off a double to RCF, but the next 3 USC batters were retired without Mack advancing. It's 1-0 NCS as we go to the B2. USC has 3 hits in the first two innings.
7:20 - N.C. State breaks the ice first with a leadoff HR in the B1 by Dallas Poulk. But he retired the next 3 batters. We go to the T2 with USC trailing, 1-0.
7:10 - USC threatened in the T1 with consecutive singles by Merrifield and Smoak but K's on Darnell and Disher ended the inning. Shunick has a very good splitter and slider. We go to the B1 with the score 0-0. Smoak is now 22 for 49 in his career in 15 NCAA Tournament games. The guy is a hitting machine. While USC didn't score, they showed they could get hits off Shunick.
7:00 - The national anthem has been played and N.C. State has taken the field. We're almost ready to start here. This is the most important game of any 4-team regional because the losing team has such a difficult road, while the winning teams has to win just one more game. Here's the first pitch. Strike. We're underway.
6:45 - Harley Lail is considered day-to-day right now with a bruised right knee. Crisp started a bunch of games last year at right field, so he's played the position before. Nick Godwin starts for USC with a 7-3 record and 3.02 ERA in 86.1 IP. He has 77 strikeouts and 22 walks. N.C. State starter Clayton Shunick is 7-5 with a 2.12 ERA in 89.1 IP with 100 K's. I'm told he's not an overpowering pitcher b ut relies on control and guile to get batters out. Tom Moody told me USC will have to go to the other way tonight rather than trying to pull everything.
6:40 - USC is taking infield here at Doak Field. We're about 20-25 minutes from the first pitch.
6:35 - UGA has beaten Louisville, 9-8, in Athens, so the Bulldogs survive. Josh Fields gave up 3 runs in the B9 but managed to hang on. UGA has to win twice tomorrow and once on Monday to win the Regional. Louisville is eliminated after advancing to the CWS last year.
6:30 - Here is USC's starting lineup for tonight's game v. N.C. State:
Havens - 6 (.366-16-54)
Merrifield - 8 (.323-3-24)
Smoak - 3 (.388-21-69)
Darnell - 5 (.312-19-81)
Disher - 2 (.305-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.278-6-20)
Bangs - DH (.302-2-6)
Crisp - 9 (.307-2-22)
Wingo - 4 (.227-6-16)
Andrew Crisp makes his first start of the year in RF. Harley Lail had started all 60 previous games, but he was injured in the 2ns inning of yesterday's game.
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6:20 - We're back after a dinner break. Believe it or not, James Madison completed a rally from a 10-2 deficit to beat UNCC, 13-12, in the first game of the afternoon. So, the loser of the USC-NCS game will face JMU Sunday at 1 p.m. UGA is leading Louisville, 9-5, in the T9.
5:40 - We're in the T8 here in Raleigh with JMU leading 13-12. The teams have combined for 31 hits. UGA now leads 9-5. We're going to the B8 here with JMU leading, 13-12.
5:30 - UGA has taken an 8-5 lead over Louisville in Athens. The Bulldogs have scored 6 runs in the T7 and they're still batting.
5:25 - Gordon Beckham may have saved Georgia's season. His 3-run HR in the T7 has tied the score with Louisville at 5-5. Here, JMU has stunned UNCC with 3 runs in the B7 to take a 13-11 lead. We're approaching the 3-1/2 hour mark. UNCC once led, 10-2. But we're a long way from being over.
5:05 - It's over in Tallahassee. UF losses, 17-11. The Gators went down quickly inthe B9 with 3 K's. Very disappointing NCAA Tourney for the Gators, especially after finishing the reguar season as the No. 3 seed in the SEC. That sweep over Vandy must feel like decades ago. But they lost 2 in a row in Hoover and now 2 straight in the NCAA Tourney.
5:00 - UF is down to its last at-bat in Tallahassee. FSU has 25 hits today. Here, UNCC has taken a 11-10 lead in the T7. Pitching change for JMU. It's probably going to be a quick turnaround for the grounds crew in Raleigh. UGA is also losing, 4-2, to Louisville in the T6.
4:45 - Great rally by JMU here in Raleigh. They trailed 10-2 going to the B5 but have rallied to knot the score at 10-10 in the B6. The Dukes have scored 6 runs in the B6. This game could be going on for a awhile. I think the pitching staffs of both teams are exhausted. We're approaching the 2:45 mark and we still have 3 innings to play.
4:35 - FSU leads UF, 17-11, in the T8. UF pitchers have now given up 23 runs in the last 11 innings. That's a collapse of major proportions. Unless the Gators rally, they will head home to Gainesviile. Right now, Billy Donovan may not be able to save UF. BTW, the game here in Raleigh is getting closer. It's 10-8 UNCC in the B6. JMU has scored four times here in the B6. This one is far from over. A lot of runs are being scored around college baseball.
4:20 - The Game Tracker for the Georgia-Louisville game is finally working. The Bulldogs are trailing, 3-2, in the B4. The last week or so has been tough on the Dawgs. They went two and out at the SEC Tournament, and didn't look good doin it, so you have to suggest UGA may have peaked too early. Louisville now leads 4-2.
4:10 - The game here in Raleigh is dragging along. UNCC leads 10-4 in the B5. It's taken forever to play these last 2 innings. There's a pitching change for UNCC. In Tallahassee, UF pitching continues to get pounded. The Seminoles lead, 15-9 in the T7. Tony Delmonico, a transfer from Tennessee, juts hit a 3-run HR. It's been a rough 2 days for the Gators.
3:45 - JMU leads UNCC, 6-2, in the T5. The 49ers scored 4 runs in the T4. They have scored three runs in the T5 and now lead 8-2. FSU leads UF, 10-9, in the B6. Ole Miss has beaten B-C, 14-1, so the Rebels get back on track after being blanked by Missouri in the tourney opener.
3:30 - UF has rallied to tie the game with FSU, 9-9, in the B5 in Tallahassee. The pitchers are being shredded in that one. JMU has ralled here with a run and now a 2-out triple. UNCC leads 5-2 in the B4.
3:10 - JMU has changed pitchers in the T4 after a solo HR. UNCC leads, 2-0. FSU is finally out in the T5 in Tallahassee after scoring seven runs. Seminoles lead, 9-5. UF pitching has imploded the last 2 days. Second time they've lost a lead. Right now, they've given up 16 runs in 14 innings. Not good. There's another HR for UNCC. 2-run shot. 49ers lead, 4-0, in the T4. I think JMU is starting to run out of pitchers.
3:00 - UNCC leads JMU, 1-0, as we go to the B3 here in Raleigh. FSU has already scored 7 runs in the T5 and now leads UF, 9-5. OLe Miss is trouncing B-C in Coral Gables, so the Rebels will play Mizzou or Miami on Sunday. JMU is down in the B3. We go to the T4 with UNCC leading, 1-0.
2:40 - JMU-Charlotte are in the T3 with the score 0-0. UF leads FSU, 5-3, in the T5. UNCC has just scored on a a RBI double. The 49ers lead 1-0. The winner of the JMU-UNCC game will play the loser of USC-NCS on Sunday at 1 p.m.
2:20 - UNCC-JMU are scoreless after 1 Inn. Kentucky has fallen behind East. Michigan, 1-0 after the T1. UF now leads Fla. State 5-1 in the B3. It looks like FSU hasn't recovered from last night's stunning loss to Bucknell. Bobby Bowden must be coaching the Seminoles based on how poorly they've played so far in the NCAA Tourney.
2:10 - The elimination game between Charlotte and James Madison is underway here at Doak Field. We're in the B1 with the score 0-0. UF leads FSU, 3-1, in Tallahassee in the B3. Ole Miss is leading Bethune-Cookman, 6-1, in the T6, so it looks like the Rebels will survive to play another day. But UF blew a 4-1 7th-inning lead last night, so we'll see what happens. UGA starts at 3 p.m.
1:55 - Florida has jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Fla. State in the top of the 3rd in Tallahassee. The Seminoles still haven't scored a run despite having one of the best players in the nations (Posey). I'm sure not many college baseball fans in the Sunshine State expected this. But that's why they play the games.
1:45 - In case you missed it late last night, the Kentucky-Michigan game was suspended in the fifth inning because be inclement weather. Thet finished that game this morning and the Wildcats lost, 7-5. It capped off a somewhat disappointing first day for the SEC. Conference teams went 3-6, with the wins being posted by USC, Alabama and LSU. Everyone else, including Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, lost. UF lost to Tulane. Here are the elimination games today:
Ole Miss-Bethune Cookman
Eastern Michigan-Kentucky
Charlotte-James Madison
Georgia-Louisville
Virginia-Rider
Arkansas-Stanford
TCU-Western Ky.
Florida-Florida State
Elon-Mt. St. Mary's
Columbia-East Carolina
Eastern Ill.-Oral Roberts
Texas Southern-New Orleans
Texas-Sam Houston State
Dallas Baptist-Ill. Chicago
California-Long Beach State
Vanderbilt-Stony Brook
1:20 - We're back at Doak Field in Raleigh for Day 2 of the double-elimination NCAA Regional. Charlotte and James Madison are preparing for baseball battle down below. They're about 45 minutes from the first pitch. They're predicting some scattered showers today, so we'll have to see how the weather goes. Yesterday, South Carolina beat Charlotte, 15-8, while host N.C. State downed James Madison, 6-2, with a late spurt. It should be a great day of baseball here at Doak Field. The main storyline of tonight's feature presentation is Ray Tanner has never coached N.C. State since leaving the Wolfpack after the 1996 season. The Gamecocks and Wolfpack will get underway at 7 p.m. The game will feature an outstanding pitching matchup. Nick Godwin will start for USC. Clayton Shunick will start for NCS. Some of the elimination games are underway. We'll be following those, as well. The most stunning win-or-go-home game is Florida v. Florida State in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are a top eight national seed. Georgia is also playing an elimination game today after being stunned at home, 10-7, by Lipscomb.
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10:10 - Nice diving catch by the NCS RF to rob Wingo. 2 outs. Havens is last hope for USC. L-4. NCS wins 5-4. USC hit the ball hard in the T9 but right at the fielders. USC will play JMU Sunday at 1 p.m.
10:05 - WE GO TO THE TOP OF THE NINTH WITH USC TRAILING, 5-4.
10:00 - New pitcher for USC is Jordan Costner. This marks his first appearance since May 15 against UT when he hurled 1 inn. Overall, this is his third appearance in May.
9:55 - Bangs 4-6-3 DP ends the T8. USC has 3 outs remaining. And new pitcher Craig Thomas has to keep NCS off the scoreboard here in the B8. We go to the B8 with NCS leading, 5-4.
9:45 - NCS bunched together 4 straight singles off Todd to score thre go-ahead run here in the B7. But DeAngelo Mack gunned down another would-be scorer with a middile from left. It might have been one of the best throws made by a USC OF this season. Great throw. But NCS leads, 5-4. USC has six outs to score at least the tying run.
9:32 - Darnell makes contact for the first time tonight, but it's a grounder right at the NCS SS. 6-4 FC at 2B. We go to the B7 with the score tied at 4-4.
9:30 - We have third pitching change of the inning for NCS. There are 2 outs, runners at 1&2. Smoak F-9. Hit will score the go-ahead run. Darnell is up and he's K'd 3 times tonight. USC needs a clutch hit right here.
9:20 - We have the second pitching change of the inning for NCS in the T7. USC has runners at 1&2 with 1 out. Merrifield just walked. Smoak is up. The score is tied at 4-4.
9:10 - We have a tie game at 4-4 here in Raleigh. Todd K'd the first batter he faced but uncorked a wild pitch to allow the tying run to score. We go to the T7 with USC and NCS tied at 4-4.
9:00 - We have a pitching change for USC here in the B6. NCS has two runners in scoring position with 1 out. Brandon Todd is the new USC pitcher, replacing Godwin, who worked 5 innings. USC leads 4-3, so Todd has his work cut out for him to keep the runners from scoring.
8:50 - USC has taken a 4-3 lead here in the T6!! Bloop single by Crisp scores the go-ahead run with 2 outs. But Bangs was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The tying run previously scored on a throwing error by the NCS SS. Disher started the 2-out uprising by singling with 2 outs for his first hit of the game. Mack then walked. Then came the error and single. James Darnell has K'd three times tonight, so he's struggling against Shunick. He must be trying to pull everything and that's not a good strategy against a pitcher with a wicked splitter and slider.
8:35 - NCS's Jeremy Synan fanned to end the B5 and must have said something to the umpire becuase he was immediately ejected. NCS had a paiur of base-runenrs reach but no runs scored. We go to the T6 with NCS leading, 3-2. We have some controversy here in Raleigh. The NCS coach was engaged in a heated conversation with the umpre, but we're back to playing baseball.
8:25 - Whit Merrifield's third hit of the game scored Wingo to make it 3-2 but the freshman from Advance, NC was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. But the run counted. Mack's HR means USC has homered in 21 straight games. Wingo reached on a HBP.
8:10 - After allowing the first 2 batters of the inning to reach base, Godwin got a foul pop on a bunt attempt. But the next batter dumped a single into LF to score a run to make it 3-1 NCS. That's where we stand heading to the T5. USC has 5 hits, NCS 4. The Wolfpack have done a better job, though, of taking advantage of their opportunities so far. NCS left 2 runners stranded.
8:05 - DeAngelo Mack does it again!! He blasted a 2-out, solo HR to RF to narrow NCS's lead to 2-1 in the T4. It was Mack's second HR of the NCAA Tourney, as he had an opposite field, 3-run shot in the first inning of Friday's 15-8 win over Charlotte. We go to the B4 with USC trailing, 2-1.
7:55 - NC State has extended its lead to 2-0 here in the B3 and the same guy who hit the HR, Dallas Poulk, delivered again with a RBI single. But Godwin proceeded to pick him off first, his 9th pick-off of the seaon. He has a great move to first base for a RHP. It's 2-0 NCS heading to the T4.
7:50 - Here are a couple of scores to pass along: Miami beat Missouri, 6-5; UNC beat UNC Wilmington, 5-1; Arkansas was eliminated with a 5-1 loss to Stanford. 2 SEC teams are now gone from the NCAA Tourney. Frankly, the SEC has to pick the pace and start winning some games.
7:45 - In the T3, Merrifield picks up his second hit of the night with a hard single into LF. That brought up Smoak, who hit a hard grounder right at the NCS 2B. He started a 4-6-3 DP. That's it for USC in the T3. We go to the B3 with NCS leading, 1-0. USC has 4 hits so far but nothing to show for it. This one is settling into a low-scoring game. Runs will be hard to come by.
7:40 - Very good B2 for Godwin. He records 2 K's and a 6-3. He's retired six in a row since the leadoff HR in the B1. We go to the T3 with NCS leading 1-0. USC has to start taking advantage of its opportunities. They have 3 LOB in the first 2 Inn.
7:30 - USC let a good scoring opportunity slip away in the T2. Mack led off a double to RCF, but the next 3 USC batters were retired without Mack advancing. It's 1-0 NCS as we go to the B2. USC has 3 hits in the first two innings.
7:20 - N.C. State breaks the ice first with a leadoff HR in the B1 by Dallas Poulk. But he retired the next 3 batters. We go to the T2 with USC trailing, 1-0.
7:10 - USC threatened in the T1 with consecutive singles by Merrifield and Smoak but K's on Darnell and Disher ended the inning. Shunick has a very good splitter and slider. We go to the B1 with the score 0-0. Smoak is now 22 for 49 in his career in 15 NCAA Tournament games. The guy is a hitting machine. While USC didn't score, they showed they could get hits off Shunick.
7:00 - The national anthem has been played and N.C. State has taken the field. We're almost ready to start here. This is the most important game of any 4-team regional because the losing team has such a difficult road, while the winning teams has to win just one more game. Here's the first pitch. Strike. We're underway.
6:45 - Harley Lail is considered day-to-day right now with a bruised right knee. Crisp started a bunch of games last year at right field, so he's played the position before. Nick Godwin starts for USC with a 7-3 record and 3.02 ERA in 86.1 IP. He has 77 strikeouts and 22 walks. N.C. State starter Clayton Shunick is 7-5 with a 2.12 ERA in 89.1 IP with 100 K's. I'm told he's not an overpowering pitcher b ut relies on control and guile to get batters out. Tom Moody told me USC will have to go to the other way tonight rather than trying to pull everything.
6:40 - USC is taking infield here at Doak Field. We're about 20-25 minutes from the first pitch.
6:35 - UGA has beaten Louisville, 9-8, in Athens, so the Bulldogs survive. Josh Fields gave up 3 runs in the B9 but managed to hang on. UGA has to win twice tomorrow and once on Monday to win the Regional. Louisville is eliminated after advancing to the CWS last year.
6:30 - Here is USC's starting lineup for tonight's game v. N.C. State:
Havens - 6 (.366-16-54)
Merrifield - 8 (.323-3-24)
Smoak - 3 (.388-21-69)
Darnell - 5 (.312-19-81)
Disher - 2 (.305-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.278-6-20)
Bangs - DH (.302-2-6)
Crisp - 9 (.307-2-22)
Wingo - 4 (.227-6-16)
Andrew Crisp makes his first start of the year in RF. Harley Lail had started all 60 previous games, but he was injured in the 2ns inning of yesterday's game.
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6:20 - We're back after a dinner break. Believe it or not, James Madison completed a rally from a 10-2 deficit to beat UNCC, 13-12, in the first game of the afternoon. So, the loser of the USC-NCS game will face JMU Sunday at 1 p.m. UGA is leading Louisville, 9-5, in the T9.
5:40 - We're in the T8 here in Raleigh with JMU leading 13-12. The teams have combined for 31 hits. UGA now leads 9-5. We're going to the B8 here with JMU leading, 13-12.
5:30 - UGA has taken an 8-5 lead over Louisville in Athens. The Bulldogs have scored 6 runs in the T7 and they're still batting.
5:25 - Gordon Beckham may have saved Georgia's season. His 3-run HR in the T7 has tied the score with Louisville at 5-5. Here, JMU has stunned UNCC with 3 runs in the B7 to take a 13-11 lead. We're approaching the 3-1/2 hour mark. UNCC once led, 10-2. But we're a long way from being over.
5:05 - It's over in Tallahassee. UF losses, 17-11. The Gators went down quickly inthe B9 with 3 K's. Very disappointing NCAA Tourney for the Gators, especially after finishing the reguar season as the No. 3 seed in the SEC. That sweep over Vandy must feel like decades ago. But they lost 2 in a row in Hoover and now 2 straight in the NCAA Tourney.
5:00 - UF is down to its last at-bat in Tallahassee. FSU has 25 hits today. Here, UNCC has taken a 11-10 lead in the T7. Pitching change for JMU. It's probably going to be a quick turnaround for the grounds crew in Raleigh. UGA is also losing, 4-2, to Louisville in the T6.
4:45 - Great rally by JMU here in Raleigh. They trailed 10-2 going to the B5 but have rallied to knot the score at 10-10 in the B6. The Dukes have scored 6 runs in the B6. This game could be going on for a awhile. I think the pitching staffs of both teams are exhausted. We're approaching the 2:45 mark and we still have 3 innings to play.
4:35 - FSU leads UF, 17-11, in the T8. UF pitchers have now given up 23 runs in the last 11 innings. That's a collapse of major proportions. Unless the Gators rally, they will head home to Gainesviile. Right now, Billy Donovan may not be able to save UF. BTW, the game here in Raleigh is getting closer. It's 10-8 UNCC in the B6. JMU has scored four times here in the B6. This one is far from over. A lot of runs are being scored around college baseball.
4:20 - The Game Tracker for the Georgia-Louisville game is finally working. The Bulldogs are trailing, 3-2, in the B4. The last week or so has been tough on the Dawgs. They went two and out at the SEC Tournament, and didn't look good doin it, so you have to suggest UGA may have peaked too early. Louisville now leads 4-2.
4:10 - The game here in Raleigh is dragging along. UNCC leads 10-4 in the B5. It's taken forever to play these last 2 innings. There's a pitching change for UNCC. In Tallahassee, UF pitching continues to get pounded. The Seminoles lead, 15-9 in the T7. Tony Delmonico, a transfer from Tennessee, juts hit a 3-run HR. It's been a rough 2 days for the Gators.
3:45 - JMU leads UNCC, 6-2, in the T5. The 49ers scored 4 runs in the T4. They have scored three runs in the T5 and now lead 8-2. FSU leads UF, 10-9, in the B6. Ole Miss has beaten B-C, 14-1, so the Rebels get back on track after being blanked by Missouri in the tourney opener.
3:30 - UF has rallied to tie the game with FSU, 9-9, in the B5 in Tallahassee. The pitchers are being shredded in that one. JMU has ralled here with a run and now a 2-out triple. UNCC leads 5-2 in the B4.
3:10 - JMU has changed pitchers in the T4 after a solo HR. UNCC leads, 2-0. FSU is finally out in the T5 in Tallahassee after scoring seven runs. Seminoles lead, 9-5. UF pitching has imploded the last 2 days. Second time they've lost a lead. Right now, they've given up 16 runs in 14 innings. Not good. There's another HR for UNCC. 2-run shot. 49ers lead, 4-0, in the T4. I think JMU is starting to run out of pitchers.
3:00 - UNCC leads JMU, 1-0, as we go to the B3 here in Raleigh. FSU has already scored 7 runs in the T5 and now leads UF, 9-5. OLe Miss is trouncing B-C in Coral Gables, so the Rebels will play Mizzou or Miami on Sunday. JMU is down in the B3. We go to the T4 with UNCC leading, 1-0.
2:40 - JMU-Charlotte are in the T3 with the score 0-0. UF leads FSU, 5-3, in the T5. UNCC has just scored on a a RBI double. The 49ers lead 1-0. The winner of the JMU-UNCC game will play the loser of USC-NCS on Sunday at 1 p.m.
2:20 - UNCC-JMU are scoreless after 1 Inn. Kentucky has fallen behind East. Michigan, 1-0 after the T1. UF now leads Fla. State 5-1 in the B3. It looks like FSU hasn't recovered from last night's stunning loss to Bucknell. Bobby Bowden must be coaching the Seminoles based on how poorly they've played so far in the NCAA Tourney.
2:10 - The elimination game between Charlotte and James Madison is underway here at Doak Field. We're in the B1 with the score 0-0. UF leads FSU, 3-1, in Tallahassee in the B3. Ole Miss is leading Bethune-Cookman, 6-1, in the T6, so it looks like the Rebels will survive to play another day. But UF blew a 4-1 7th-inning lead last night, so we'll see what happens. UGA starts at 3 p.m.
1:55 - Florida has jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Fla. State in the top of the 3rd in Tallahassee. The Seminoles still haven't scored a run despite having one of the best players in the nations (Posey). I'm sure not many college baseball fans in the Sunshine State expected this. But that's why they play the games.
1:45 - In case you missed it late last night, the Kentucky-Michigan game was suspended in the fifth inning because be inclement weather. Thet finished that game this morning and the Wildcats lost, 7-5. It capped off a somewhat disappointing first day for the SEC. Conference teams went 3-6, with the wins being posted by USC, Alabama and LSU. Everyone else, including Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, lost. UF lost to Tulane. Here are the elimination games today:
Ole Miss-Bethune Cookman
Eastern Michigan-Kentucky
Charlotte-James Madison
Georgia-Louisville
Virginia-Rider
Arkansas-Stanford
TCU-Western Ky.
Florida-Florida State
Elon-Mt. St. Mary's
Columbia-East Carolina
Eastern Ill.-Oral Roberts
Texas Southern-New Orleans
Texas-Sam Houston State
Dallas Baptist-Ill. Chicago
California-Long Beach State
Vanderbilt-Stony Brook
1:20 - We're back at Doak Field in Raleigh for Day 2 of the double-elimination NCAA Regional. Charlotte and James Madison are preparing for baseball battle down below. They're about 45 minutes from the first pitch. They're predicting some scattered showers today, so we'll have to see how the weather goes. Yesterday, South Carolina beat Charlotte, 15-8, while host N.C. State downed James Madison, 6-2, with a late spurt. It should be a great day of baseball here at Doak Field. The main storyline of tonight's feature presentation is Ray Tanner has never coached N.C. State since leaving the Wolfpack after the 1996 season. The Gamecocks and Wolfpack will get underway at 7 p.m. The game will feature an outstanding pitching matchup. Nick Godwin will start for USC. Clayton Shunick will start for NCS. Some of the elimination games are underway. We'll be following those, as well. The most stunning win-or-go-home game is Florida v. Florida State in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are a top eight national seed. Georgia is also playing an elimination game today after being stunned at home, 10-7, by Lipscomb.
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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 @.