SEC Baseball Tournament - Day 1 (Wed. May 21)
posted by Scott Hood, Wednesday, May 21, 2008
11:30 - As it stands right now, here is the schedule for Thursday:
USC v. Florida - 11 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Georgia v. Alabama/Kentucky - 2 p.m. (Elimination Game)
LSU v. Vanderbilt - 6 p.m. (Winners Bracket)
Ole Miss v. Kentucky/Alabama - 9 p.m. (Winners Bracket)
11:20 - It looks we're back on-line after a delay here at the ballpatk. We have our second "upset" of the day with Ole Miss defeating No. 1 seed Georgia, 4-1. UGA will play the loser of the upcoming Alabama-Kentucky game, which will start at 11:45 p.m. ET, at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Ole Miss will play the winner at 9 p.m. ET. Right now, we're nearly 3 hours behind schedule here in Hoover.
10:30 - Nobody has scored in the lat two innings. The UGA-Ole Miss game is headed to the T9 with the Rebels still leading, 3-1. Ole Miss closer Scott Bittle is pitching for the Rebels.
9:50 - UGA scored a run in the B6 on a two-out single. We're headed to the T7 with Ole Miss still leading, 3-1.
9:30 - The Georgia CF just made a fabulous catch while crashing into the wall. He was on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field. We're heading to the B6 with Ole Miss still leading 3-0. UGA has managed just two hits through the first 5 innings.
9:00 - Ole Miss has taken a 3-0 lead over Georgia as a result of a disputed home run in the T4. It appeared to me that the ball curved foul, but the third base umpire ruled it a fair ball and signalled HR. Ole Miss starter Lance Lynn struckout SEC Player of the Year Gordon Beckham to end the B3. We go to the B$ with Ole Miss leading, 3-0.
8:20 - The third game of the day between Georgia and Ole Miss is underway here at Regions Park in Hoover. Ole Miss scored a pair of runs in the first inning ans they lead 2-0 in the B2. Lance Lynn, who played on the USA National Team with Justin Smoak last summer, is the starting pitcher for the Rebels, who have a large fanbase here.
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7:05 - Vanderbilt has defeated Florida, 7-3, in the second game here at Regions Park. That sets up the following matchups on Thursday:
USC v. Florida - 11 a.m. ET (Elimination Game)
Second Elimination Game - 2 p.m. ET
LSU v. Vanderbilt - 6 p.m. ET
Second Winners Bracket Game - 9 p.m.
6:40 - Vanderbilt and Florida are headed to the B9 with the Commodores leading, 7-3. If Vanderbilt holds on, it would play LSU Thur. at 6 p.m., while Florida would face USC at 11 a.m.
5:50 - We're reached the 7th-inning stretch in the second game of the day between Vanderbilt and Florida. The Commodores lead, 6-3. UF scored two runs in the bottom of the 6th.
5:05 - Vandy and UF headed to the B5 with the Commodores leading 5-1. VU has 8 hits through 5 at-bats. UF has 3 hits. Two more games follow tonight: Ole Miss v. Georgia at 6 p.m. ET and Kentucky-Alabama at 9 p.m. ET. However, since the USC-LSU lasted 3.5 hours, we're already behind schedule.
4:55 - The Florida-Vanderbilt game is in the bottom of the fourth inning with Vanderbilt holding a 5-1 lead over the No. 3 seeded Gators. Vandy scored three times in the second. USC will play the loser of this game on Thursday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.
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2:35 - Farotto K's Mitchell for the first out in the B10. Dean up. There's a drive to RCF. Home run. LSU wins 5-4. Another blown big lead for USC. The bullpen collapsed in this one. Wasted a huge performance by Dyson. Tanner must be angry!!
2:30 - Disher leads off the T10 with a BB, his second of the game. Adam Crisp PR. Andrew Crisp sacrifices. Lail U-3. Crisp to 3B. Mack up. There's a smash to 2B. But the LSU 2B scoops it up. 3 outs. Farotto is now pitching for USC. He is USC's 4th pitcher of the day. It's 4-4 as we go to the B10.
2:25 - We head to the T10 with the score tied at 4-4. The USC bullpen implodes with 3 walks, a HR and a single in the B9. Tanner must be angry in the dugout. He's seen too many blown leads this season. The game-tying single was right on the line, so there's an element of bad luck, but walking 3 guys is inexcusable.
2:20 - Todd walks the first batter he faces. Winning run to the plate. Nicholas Pontiff up. He had a PH HR when the two teams faced off in BR a few weeks ago. He hangs in there. Strike 3!! LSU is ballistic! 2 outs. Schimpf up. He lofts on down the LF line. Fair ball!! Tying run scores. It's 4-4 in the B9. Runner on 2B.
2:15 - Matt Clark up. He's LSU's leading HR hitter. There's a bomb to CF. Home run. LSU now trails by just a run at 4-3. Here comes Calvi. Brandon Todd is the new pitcher for USC. Gamecocks needs 2 more outs.
2:12 - Atwood ahead 0-2 on the third batter of the B9. Tying run in the on-deck circle. This would be a save situation for a new pitcher. Farotto and Todd continue to throw in the bullpen. Strike 3 looking!! 1 out.
2:10 - Atwood walks the leadoff batter in the B9. Farotto and Todd are warming up in the bullpen. 3-1 on the second batter. Ball four. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs. Atwood struggling here in the T9. Here comes Calvi.
2:05 - Darnell grounds into a 6-4-3 DP. So, WE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 4-0. Atwood back to the mound for USC. He's retired all 4 batters he's faced.
2:00 - Double down the RF line for Merrifield! Havens goes to 3B. Here comes Smoak. But LSU will walk him again. Second IBB and third BB overall for him today. Darnell up with the bases loaded. Hit here would score 2 runs with Merrifield at 2B.
1:55 - Base hit to CF for Havens!! Mack scores from 2B. USC leads 4-0. Huge run there.
1:50 - Mack works a walk to open the T9. Graet at-bat for him. He fouled off several pitches. Wingo will likely bunt. How does. 1-3 sac. Mack to 2B. Here comes the LSU coach to the mound. There's no one warming up in the LSU bullpen. Havens up. He's had a tough afternoon with 3 K's and a sac. I'm sure he's happy to see Verdugo out of there.
1:45 - 2 outs here in the B8. U-3 and L-9. Jared Mitchell up. Strike 3!! Atwood sets down LSU in order. USC is 3 outs away from a huge opening game win. We go to the T9 with USC leading, 3-0. A couple of insurance runs would be nice. Mack, Wingo and Havens due up.
1:40 - Crisp K's for third time. LSU pitchers have combined for 12 K's today. But USC has come up with a couple of big hits. Lail K's. That's 13 K's for LSU pitchers. We go to the B8 with USC leading, 3-0.
1:35 - Atwood gets a 5-3 roller for the third out in the B7. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 3-0. Disher leads off. He K's. 1 out. Crisp up. Here comes the LSU coach. Another pitching change. This is the third LSU pitcher. Crisp is due.
1:30 - There's a triple to LF over Crisp's head. He dove but just couldn't reach it. LSU has a runner at 3B with 2 outs. Here comes Tanner. That's it for Dyson. What a performance. 6.2 IP, 2 hits, 6 K's. Will Atwood is the new pitcher for USC. THis means that Atwood likely won't start the third game for USC if the Gamecocks maanges to win one of their first two.
1:25 - 3-2 on leadoff batter in B7. Strike 3 on checked swing! That's the 6th K for Dyson. LSU still has just 1 hit as they bat here in the B7. X-2 for the second out. Dyson has set down 11 of 12. He's been impressive. When we talked with him on Monday, you could tell he was cherishing the opportunity to start. This is a big stage for him. And he's coming through. But USC still needs 7 more outs, so there's plenty of baseball left.
1:20 - LSU elects to IBB Smoak. Runners on the corners w/ 2 outs for Darnell. FC 6-4 at 2B. We go to the B7 with USC leading 3-0. Dyson comes out for the B7. But Will Atwood is warming up in the bullpen just in case.
1:10 - Wingo leads off the T7 for USC. He's walked and K'd. He walks again! He has an uncanny ability to get on base. Havens up. He lays down the bunt. 1-3 sac. Wingo moves to second. He'll likely score on a hit. Merrifield up. He's flied to center, sacrificed and walked. Freshman at the plate and freshman on the basepaths. 1-3 groundout. Wingo to third. USC needs a hit here from Smoak.
1:05 - Great defensive play by Darnell to open the B6. He charged in to field a bunt by Mitchell and threw him out by a step. There's a 4-3 groundout for the second out. Dyson has retired 10 of the last 12 batters. The only 2 batters to reach came via walks. The last LSU hit came in the second. There'a s foul pop behind home plate. But it falls. That was Disher's ball. F-7, though. No damage done except a couple more pitches. Tanner has to be thrilled with Dyson's performance! LSU has just 1 hit through 6 Inn. We go to the T7 with USC leading 3-0.
1:00 - Lail's clutch 2-out, 2 run single in the T6 has given USC a 3-0 lead as we go to the B6. That was nice to see since Lail has realy struggled at the plate in the second half of the season. He came into the game with a .238 BA. He's given Dyosn a little breathing room. Let's see how he handles it.
12:55 - Disher works the count full. Verdugo is throwing a lot of pitches here in the T6. Ball four! Bases are loaded are Crisp. He's K'd and singled. Crisp swings and misses at a high fastball. 2 outs. Lail up. He's K's twice. Big hit here would be nice for the Indian Land native. Base hit to LF!!! 2 runs score!! USC leads 3-0. Lail comes through!!
12:50 - Merrifield opens the T6 with a walk. That's his 20th BB of the season. Smoak up. 5-3 groundout. Merrifield to 2B. Darnell up. 3-2 count. Ball four. Verdugo is struggling with his control here in the T6. Disher up. Here comes the LSU coach for a chat with the infield. USC has a chance to add some runs here to its 1-0 lead.
12:45 - Strike Three!! We go to the T6 with USC leading 1-0. Dyson fanned the side in the B5, giving him 5 K's in the game. The question now is how long Tanner will stay with him. Tanner told us Monday he just wanted 5 or 6 good innings from Dyson. Merrifield leads off for USC in the T6.
12:40 - Dyson continues to impress here in the B5. He's whiffed the first two LSU batters. That's 4 K's for the redshirt Fr. from Tampa. It looks like Tanner's gamble has paid off. But, just as I say that, he walks LSU's No. 9 hitter for the second time. That brings up LSU's leadoff hitter for the third time. There goes the runner. Stolen base. LSU has runners at 2B, 2 outs in the B5.
12:30 - Two quick outs in the T5 for USC. P-4 and K. Havens up. He's fanned twice today. Let's see if Havens can get a hit against this LSU LHP. He has 8 K's through 4.2 IP. Nope. He K's again. Nine for Verdugo, 3 against Havens. We go to the B5 with USC leading 1-0.
12:25 - We have 2 outs here in the B4 and LSU has a runner at 1B on a leadoff walk. Matt Clark is up. Drive to deep RF. Lail is there at the warning track. F-9. We go to the T5 with USC leading 1-0. Mack, Wingo, Havens due for USC.
12:15 - Crisp infield single. But Mack K's. Crisp is thrown out stealing 2-6. Disher's 17th HR of the season has given USC a 1-0 lead as we go to the B4. Can Dyson protect the slim lead?
12:10 - Darnell F-7 to deep LF. Disher up. There's a drive to CF. It's over the wall for a home run!! USC leads 1-0. It went right over the 405 foot sign. What a bomb by Disher. USC is 28-9 when it scores first this season. USC has broken the ice here in Hoover.
12:05 - Dyson walks LSU's No. 9 hitter with 1 out in the B3. As a result, he has to face LSU's leadoff hitter with a runner on base. There's a 1-3 comebacker. 2 outs. Runner to 2nd. Jared Mitchell up for LSU. Strikeout!! That's 2 K's for Dyson. He's pitching very well. We have a pitcher's duel here at Regions Park. It's 0-0 as we go to the T4. Darnell, Disher, Crisp due for USC.
11:55 - Wingo leads off the T3 with a BB. He had a .434 OBP coming in. But Havens K's for the second time. Merrifield 3-4 sacrifice. Havens goes to 2B. Smoak lines one right at the LSU SS! Ouch. 3 outs. We go to the B3 with the score still 0-0. Who will break the ice first??
11:45 - LSU has a runner at 3B, 2 outs. There's a drive to RF. But it will stay in the ballpark. F-9. It's 0-0 as we go to the T3. Wingo, Havens, Merrifield. 5 K's for the LSU pitcher in the 1st 2 Inn.
11:40 - Leadoff single for LSU here in the B2. He advances to 2B on a 4-3 groundout on a H&R play. LSU has runners at 2nd, 1 out. Matt Clark, LSU's most dangerous HR hitter, is up. I have to give Dyson credit so far. He's battling these LSU hitters. Nice play by Havens! He barehanded a deflected ball off Dyson and threw the runners out at 1B. LSU has runner at 3B, 2 outs. Calvi out for a visit.
11:35 - Tough T2 for USC. Verdugo struckout the side. 3 up, 3 down. He has five K's through 2 Inn. This reminds of the Jess Todd game last year. Hopefully, it won't get that bad. We go to the B2 with the score 0-0.
11:30 - Double play grounder to Havens! He stepped on 2nd and fired to first to double up Dean. That's huge right there. Good B1 for Dyson. Hopefully, his confidence will grow. We go to the T2 with the score 0-0. Crisp, Lail and Mack due.
11:25 - Dyson is locked in a battle with LSU's leadoff batter. Strike three! Great start for Dyson. Here comes Jared Mitchell, who almost came to USC to play football. He's batting 2nd. I recall he was 8th or 9th when the 2 teams played in BR a few weeks ago. Mitchell walks. 1 runner on, 1 out.
11:20 - Smoak walks with 2 outs. That sends up Darnell. He singled to LF! Runners on 1&2, 2 outs for USC. Disher up. USC needs some 2-out lightning right here. But Disher K's for the third out. That's the 64th time Disher has fanned this season. We go to the B1 with the score tied at 0-0.
11:15 - Havens steps inand promptly takes 2 strikes against Verdugo. Swing and a moss for strike 3 on a 1-2 pitch. Merrifield rips on to RF, but the LSU CF makes a diving catch. Great play by Landry. That's why LSU has won 16 games in a row.
11:10 - The coaches and umpires are meeting at home plate. We're just a few minutes away from the start of the opening game of the SEC TOurnament. LSU has taken the field. Havens, Merrifield, Smoak due in the T1.
10:55 - We're about 10 minutes from the start of today's game. Here are a few interesting notes:
-- USC is wearing its garnet jerseys with the white sleeves. USC is 11-0 wearing that uniform this season.
-- USC is 37-19 this season, including 15-15 in the SEC.
-- USC is 18-14 in the SEC Tournament since the start of the 2000 Tournmant. USC won the 2004 Tourney title with a perfect 4-0 mark.
-- USC's streak of reaching the SEC Tournament in 12 straight years is the longest in the conference. USC is the only school to reach the SEC Tournament every since 2000.
-- USC leads the SEC in home runs with 99 in 56 games.
10:20 - USC has arrived at the ballpark. They will be the visting team today since they are the lower seed. Here is the Gamecocks' starting lineup with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.357-16 HR-51 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.319-3-21)
Smoak - 3 (.389-20-61)
Darnell - 5 (.315-18-77)
Disher - 2 (.310-16-51)
Crisp - 7 (.304-2-21)
Lail - 9 (.238-5-27)
Mack - DH (.291-5-17)
Wingo - 4 (.222-6-15)
Dyson - P (7-0, 3.86 ERA, 37.1 IP, 30 hits, 17 runs, 37 K, 23 BB, .231 OBA)
The only surprise I see from the batting order is the omission of Kyle Enders. I though they would use him today since LSU is throwing a LHP. The crowd is filing in slowly here at Regions Park. I see a few USC fans. I expect they'll be more lSU fans here, since they come out in droves for the SEC Tourney.
10:00 - We're here at Regions Field in Hoover, Ala. for the 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament. Hoover is located about 10 miles south of downtown Birmingham. USC faces LSU in the first game of the tournament at 11 a.m. ET. The most intriguing storyline of Game 1 is the decision of Ray Tanner to start redshirt freshman Sam Dyson against the red-hot Tigers. He has good numbers (7-0, 3.86 ERA, 30 hits in 37.1 IP) but all of his appearances this season have come against nonconference competition. This will be his first career start against a SEC opponent. I look at this as an early 2009 tryout for Dyson. He'll compete for a weekend starting role next season, so I'm sure he wants to make a good first impression. LSU will start junior LHP Ryan Verdugo, who was 8-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 76.1 IP. LSU is possibly the hottest team in the country, entering today's game with a 16-game winning streak, including 12 in a row against the SEC. They swept their final four conference series of the season. It's difficult enough to sweep one series, let alone four straight. That's a pretty impressive stretch. USC is 2-3 against LSU in the SEC Tournament. They last met here in Hoover in 2002. LSU has arrived at the ballpark. We're still waiting for USC. The teams do not take batting practice here at the stadium. Hoover High School is nearby.
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12:10 - The UK/Alabama game is underway. The Tide scored twice in the T1 to take a 2-0 lead. This game probably won't end until 3 a.m., so I think I'm going to head back to the hotel for some rest. We'll be back here at approx. 9 a.m. on Thursday for the USC-Florida game.
11:30 - As it stands right now, here is the schedule for Thursday:
USC v. Florida - 11 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Georgia v. Alabama/Kentucky - 2 p.m. (Elimination Game)
LSU v. Vanderbilt - 6 p.m. (Winners Bracket)
Ole Miss v. Kentucky/Alabama - 9 p.m. (Winners Bracket)
11:20 - It looks we're back on-line after a delay here at the ballpatk. We have our second "upset" of the day with Ole Miss defeating No. 1 seed Georgia, 4-1. UGA will play the loser of the upcoming Alabama-Kentucky game, which will start at 11:45 p.m. ET, at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Ole Miss will play the winner at 9 p.m. ET. Right now, we're nearly 3 hours behind schedule here in Hoover.
10:30 - Nobody has scored in the lat two innings. The UGA-Ole Miss game is headed to the T9 with the Rebels still leading, 3-1. Ole Miss closer Scott Bittle is pitching for the Rebels.
9:50 - UGA scored a run in the B6 on a two-out single. We're headed to the T7 with Ole Miss still leading, 3-1.
9:30 - The Georgia CF just made a fabulous catch while crashing into the wall. He was on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field. We're heading to the B6 with Ole Miss still leading 3-0. UGA has managed just two hits through the first 5 innings.
9:00 - Ole Miss has taken a 3-0 lead over Georgia as a result of a disputed home run in the T4. It appeared to me that the ball curved foul, but the third base umpire ruled it a fair ball and signalled HR. Ole Miss starter Lance Lynn struckout SEC Player of the Year Gordon Beckham to end the B3. We go to the B$ with Ole Miss leading, 3-0.
8:20 - The third game of the day between Georgia and Ole Miss is underway here at Regions Park in Hoover. Ole Miss scored a pair of runs in the first inning ans they lead 2-0 in the B2. Lance Lynn, who played on the USA National Team with Justin Smoak last summer, is the starting pitcher for the Rebels, who have a large fanbase here.
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7:05 - Vanderbilt has defeated Florida, 7-3, in the second game here at Regions Park. That sets up the following matchups on Thursday:
USC v. Florida - 11 a.m. ET (Elimination Game)
Second Elimination Game - 2 p.m. ET
LSU v. Vanderbilt - 6 p.m. ET
Second Winners Bracket Game - 9 p.m.
6:40 - Vanderbilt and Florida are headed to the B9 with the Commodores leading, 7-3. If Vanderbilt holds on, it would play LSU Thur. at 6 p.m., while Florida would face USC at 11 a.m.
5:50 - We're reached the 7th-inning stretch in the second game of the day between Vanderbilt and Florida. The Commodores lead, 6-3. UF scored two runs in the bottom of the 6th.
5:05 - Vandy and UF headed to the B5 with the Commodores leading 5-1. VU has 8 hits through 5 at-bats. UF has 3 hits. Two more games follow tonight: Ole Miss v. Georgia at 6 p.m. ET and Kentucky-Alabama at 9 p.m. ET. However, since the USC-LSU lasted 3.5 hours, we're already behind schedule.
4:55 - The Florida-Vanderbilt game is in the bottom of the fourth inning with Vanderbilt holding a 5-1 lead over the No. 3 seeded Gators. Vandy scored three times in the second. USC will play the loser of this game on Thursday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.
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2:35 - Farotto K's Mitchell for the first out in the B10. Dean up. There's a drive to RCF. Home run. LSU wins 5-4. Another blown big lead for USC. The bullpen collapsed in this one. Wasted a huge performance by Dyson. Tanner must be angry!!
2:30 - Disher leads off the T10 with a BB, his second of the game. Adam Crisp PR. Andrew Crisp sacrifices. Lail U-3. Crisp to 3B. Mack up. There's a smash to 2B. But the LSU 2B scoops it up. 3 outs. Farotto is now pitching for USC. He is USC's 4th pitcher of the day. It's 4-4 as we go to the B10.
2:25 - We head to the T10 with the score tied at 4-4. The USC bullpen implodes with 3 walks, a HR and a single in the B9. Tanner must be angry in the dugout. He's seen too many blown leads this season. The game-tying single was right on the line, so there's an element of bad luck, but walking 3 guys is inexcusable.
2:20 - Todd walks the first batter he faces. Winning run to the plate. Nicholas Pontiff up. He had a PH HR when the two teams faced off in BR a few weeks ago. He hangs in there. Strike 3!! LSU is ballistic! 2 outs. Schimpf up. He lofts on down the LF line. Fair ball!! Tying run scores. It's 4-4 in the B9. Runner on 2B.
2:15 - Matt Clark up. He's LSU's leading HR hitter. There's a bomb to CF. Home run. LSU now trails by just a run at 4-3. Here comes Calvi. Brandon Todd is the new pitcher for USC. Gamecocks needs 2 more outs.
2:12 - Atwood ahead 0-2 on the third batter of the B9. Tying run in the on-deck circle. This would be a save situation for a new pitcher. Farotto and Todd continue to throw in the bullpen. Strike 3 looking!! 1 out.
2:10 - Atwood walks the leadoff batter in the B9. Farotto and Todd are warming up in the bullpen. 3-1 on the second batter. Ball four. Runners at 1&2, 0 outs. Atwood struggling here in the T9. Here comes Calvi.
2:05 - Darnell grounds into a 6-4-3 DP. So, WE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 4-0. Atwood back to the mound for USC. He's retired all 4 batters he's faced.
2:00 - Double down the RF line for Merrifield! Havens goes to 3B. Here comes Smoak. But LSU will walk him again. Second IBB and third BB overall for him today. Darnell up with the bases loaded. Hit here would score 2 runs with Merrifield at 2B.
1:55 - Base hit to CF for Havens!! Mack scores from 2B. USC leads 4-0. Huge run there.
1:50 - Mack works a walk to open the T9. Graet at-bat for him. He fouled off several pitches. Wingo will likely bunt. How does. 1-3 sac. Mack to 2B. Here comes the LSU coach to the mound. There's no one warming up in the LSU bullpen. Havens up. He's had a tough afternoon with 3 K's and a sac. I'm sure he's happy to see Verdugo out of there.
1:45 - 2 outs here in the B8. U-3 and L-9. Jared Mitchell up. Strike 3!! Atwood sets down LSU in order. USC is 3 outs away from a huge opening game win. We go to the T9 with USC leading, 3-0. A couple of insurance runs would be nice. Mack, Wingo and Havens due up.
1:40 - Crisp K's for third time. LSU pitchers have combined for 12 K's today. But USC has come up with a couple of big hits. Lail K's. That's 13 K's for LSU pitchers. We go to the B8 with USC leading, 3-0.
1:35 - Atwood gets a 5-3 roller for the third out in the B7. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 3-0. Disher leads off. He K's. 1 out. Crisp up. Here comes the LSU coach. Another pitching change. This is the third LSU pitcher. Crisp is due.
1:30 - There's a triple to LF over Crisp's head. He dove but just couldn't reach it. LSU has a runner at 3B with 2 outs. Here comes Tanner. That's it for Dyson. What a performance. 6.2 IP, 2 hits, 6 K's. Will Atwood is the new pitcher for USC. THis means that Atwood likely won't start the third game for USC if the Gamecocks maanges to win one of their first two.
1:25 - 3-2 on leadoff batter in B7. Strike 3 on checked swing! That's the 6th K for Dyson. LSU still has just 1 hit as they bat here in the B7. X-2 for the second out. Dyson has set down 11 of 12. He's been impressive. When we talked with him on Monday, you could tell he was cherishing the opportunity to start. This is a big stage for him. And he's coming through. But USC still needs 7 more outs, so there's plenty of baseball left.
1:20 - LSU elects to IBB Smoak. Runners on the corners w/ 2 outs for Darnell. FC 6-4 at 2B. We go to the B7 with USC leading 3-0. Dyson comes out for the B7. But Will Atwood is warming up in the bullpen just in case.
1:10 - Wingo leads off the T7 for USC. He's walked and K'd. He walks again! He has an uncanny ability to get on base. Havens up. He lays down the bunt. 1-3 sac. Wingo moves to second. He'll likely score on a hit. Merrifield up. He's flied to center, sacrificed and walked. Freshman at the plate and freshman on the basepaths. 1-3 groundout. Wingo to third. USC needs a hit here from Smoak.
1:05 - Great defensive play by Darnell to open the B6. He charged in to field a bunt by Mitchell and threw him out by a step. There's a 4-3 groundout for the second out. Dyson has retired 10 of the last 12 batters. The only 2 batters to reach came via walks. The last LSU hit came in the second. There'a s foul pop behind home plate. But it falls. That was Disher's ball. F-7, though. No damage done except a couple more pitches. Tanner has to be thrilled with Dyson's performance! LSU has just 1 hit through 6 Inn. We go to the T7 with USC leading 3-0.
1:00 - Lail's clutch 2-out, 2 run single in the T6 has given USC a 3-0 lead as we go to the B6. That was nice to see since Lail has realy struggled at the plate in the second half of the season. He came into the game with a .238 BA. He's given Dyosn a little breathing room. Let's see how he handles it.
12:55 - Disher works the count full. Verdugo is throwing a lot of pitches here in the T6. Ball four! Bases are loaded are Crisp. He's K'd and singled. Crisp swings and misses at a high fastball. 2 outs. Lail up. He's K's twice. Big hit here would be nice for the Indian Land native. Base hit to LF!!! 2 runs score!! USC leads 3-0. Lail comes through!!
12:50 - Merrifield opens the T6 with a walk. That's his 20th BB of the season. Smoak up. 5-3 groundout. Merrifield to 2B. Darnell up. 3-2 count. Ball four. Verdugo is struggling with his control here in the T6. Disher up. Here comes the LSU coach for a chat with the infield. USC has a chance to add some runs here to its 1-0 lead.
12:45 - Strike Three!! We go to the T6 with USC leading 1-0. Dyson fanned the side in the B5, giving him 5 K's in the game. The question now is how long Tanner will stay with him. Tanner told us Monday he just wanted 5 or 6 good innings from Dyson. Merrifield leads off for USC in the T6.
12:40 - Dyson continues to impress here in the B5. He's whiffed the first two LSU batters. That's 4 K's for the redshirt Fr. from Tampa. It looks like Tanner's gamble has paid off. But, just as I say that, he walks LSU's No. 9 hitter for the second time. That brings up LSU's leadoff hitter for the third time. There goes the runner. Stolen base. LSU has runners at 2B, 2 outs in the B5.
12:30 - Two quick outs in the T5 for USC. P-4 and K. Havens up. He's fanned twice today. Let's see if Havens can get a hit against this LSU LHP. He has 8 K's through 4.2 IP. Nope. He K's again. Nine for Verdugo, 3 against Havens. We go to the B5 with USC leading 1-0.
12:25 - We have 2 outs here in the B4 and LSU has a runner at 1B on a leadoff walk. Matt Clark is up. Drive to deep RF. Lail is there at the warning track. F-9. We go to the T5 with USC leading 1-0. Mack, Wingo, Havens due for USC.
12:15 - Crisp infield single. But Mack K's. Crisp is thrown out stealing 2-6. Disher's 17th HR of the season has given USC a 1-0 lead as we go to the B4. Can Dyson protect the slim lead?
12:10 - Darnell F-7 to deep LF. Disher up. There's a drive to CF. It's over the wall for a home run!! USC leads 1-0. It went right over the 405 foot sign. What a bomb by Disher. USC is 28-9 when it scores first this season. USC has broken the ice here in Hoover.
12:05 - Dyson walks LSU's No. 9 hitter with 1 out in the B3. As a result, he has to face LSU's leadoff hitter with a runner on base. There's a 1-3 comebacker. 2 outs. Runner to 2nd. Jared Mitchell up for LSU. Strikeout!! That's 2 K's for Dyson. He's pitching very well. We have a pitcher's duel here at Regions Park. It's 0-0 as we go to the T4. Darnell, Disher, Crisp due for USC.
11:55 - Wingo leads off the T3 with a BB. He had a .434 OBP coming in. But Havens K's for the second time. Merrifield 3-4 sacrifice. Havens goes to 2B. Smoak lines one right at the LSU SS! Ouch. 3 outs. We go to the B3 with the score still 0-0. Who will break the ice first??
11:45 - LSU has a runner at 3B, 2 outs. There's a drive to RF. But it will stay in the ballpark. F-9. It's 0-0 as we go to the T3. Wingo, Havens, Merrifield. 5 K's for the LSU pitcher in the 1st 2 Inn.
11:40 - Leadoff single for LSU here in the B2. He advances to 2B on a 4-3 groundout on a H&R play. LSU has runners at 2nd, 1 out. Matt Clark, LSU's most dangerous HR hitter, is up. I have to give Dyson credit so far. He's battling these LSU hitters. Nice play by Havens! He barehanded a deflected ball off Dyson and threw the runners out at 1B. LSU has runner at 3B, 2 outs. Calvi out for a visit.
11:35 - Tough T2 for USC. Verdugo struckout the side. 3 up, 3 down. He has five K's through 2 Inn. This reminds of the Jess Todd game last year. Hopefully, it won't get that bad. We go to the B2 with the score 0-0.
11:30 - Double play grounder to Havens! He stepped on 2nd and fired to first to double up Dean. That's huge right there. Good B1 for Dyson. Hopefully, his confidence will grow. We go to the T2 with the score 0-0. Crisp, Lail and Mack due.
11:25 - Dyson is locked in a battle with LSU's leadoff batter. Strike three! Great start for Dyson. Here comes Jared Mitchell, who almost came to USC to play football. He's batting 2nd. I recall he was 8th or 9th when the 2 teams played in BR a few weeks ago. Mitchell walks. 1 runner on, 1 out.
11:20 - Smoak walks with 2 outs. That sends up Darnell. He singled to LF! Runners on 1&2, 2 outs for USC. Disher up. USC needs some 2-out lightning right here. But Disher K's for the third out. That's the 64th time Disher has fanned this season. We go to the B1 with the score tied at 0-0.
11:15 - Havens steps inand promptly takes 2 strikes against Verdugo. Swing and a moss for strike 3 on a 1-2 pitch. Merrifield rips on to RF, but the LSU CF makes a diving catch. Great play by Landry. That's why LSU has won 16 games in a row.
11:10 - The coaches and umpires are meeting at home plate. We're just a few minutes away from the start of the opening game of the SEC TOurnament. LSU has taken the field. Havens, Merrifield, Smoak due in the T1.
10:55 - We're about 10 minutes from the start of today's game. Here are a few interesting notes:
-- USC is wearing its garnet jerseys with the white sleeves. USC is 11-0 wearing that uniform this season.
-- USC is 37-19 this season, including 15-15 in the SEC.
-- USC is 18-14 in the SEC Tournament since the start of the 2000 Tournmant. USC won the 2004 Tourney title with a perfect 4-0 mark.
-- USC's streak of reaching the SEC Tournament in 12 straight years is the longest in the conference. USC is the only school to reach the SEC Tournament every since 2000.
-- USC leads the SEC in home runs with 99 in 56 games.
10:20 - USC has arrived at the ballpark. They will be the visting team today since they are the lower seed. Here is the Gamecocks' starting lineup with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.357-16 HR-51 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.319-3-21)
Smoak - 3 (.389-20-61)
Darnell - 5 (.315-18-77)
Disher - 2 (.310-16-51)
Crisp - 7 (.304-2-21)
Lail - 9 (.238-5-27)
Mack - DH (.291-5-17)
Wingo - 4 (.222-6-15)
Dyson - P (7-0, 3.86 ERA, 37.1 IP, 30 hits, 17 runs, 37 K, 23 BB, .231 OBA)
The only surprise I see from the batting order is the omission of Kyle Enders. I though they would use him today since LSU is throwing a LHP. The crowd is filing in slowly here at Regions Park. I see a few USC fans. I expect they'll be more lSU fans here, since they come out in droves for the SEC Tourney.
10:00 - We're here at Regions Field in Hoover, Ala. for the 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament. Hoover is located about 10 miles south of downtown Birmingham. USC faces LSU in the first game of the tournament at 11 a.m. ET. The most intriguing storyline of Game 1 is the decision of Ray Tanner to start redshirt freshman Sam Dyson against the red-hot Tigers. He has good numbers (7-0, 3.86 ERA, 30 hits in 37.1 IP) but all of his appearances this season have come against nonconference competition. This will be his first career start against a SEC opponent. I look at this as an early 2009 tryout for Dyson. He'll compete for a weekend starting role next season, so I'm sure he wants to make a good first impression. LSU will start junior LHP Ryan Verdugo, who was 8-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 76.1 IP. LSU is possibly the hottest team in the country, entering today's game with a 16-game winning streak, including 12 in a row against the SEC. They swept their final four conference series of the season. It's difficult enough to sweep one series, let alone four straight. That's a pretty impressive stretch. USC is 2-3 against LSU in the SEC Tournament. They last met here in Hoover in 2002. LSU has arrived at the ballpark. We're still waiting for USC. The teams do not take batting practice here at the stadium. Hoover High School is nearby.
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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 @.