USC-Tennessee Game 2 Blog - Fri. 2/16
posted by Scott Hood, Friday, May 16, 2008
10:00 - 1 out walk. UT's No. 3 hitter is up. Tying run at the plate. Tanner is out to talk to Bangs.. Fly ball to deep RF. But it's caught about 10 feet in front of the warning track. That ball looked gone when it left the bat. I think the wind knocked it down. 2 outs. UT's No. 4 batter is up. walk. UT has runners on 1&2, 2 outs. Lead run at the plate. Here comes tanner. That's it for Bangs. Alex Farotto coming in.
9:58 - UK has beaten Ole Miss, 9-0. That helps USC. Both teams would be 14-15 if USC hangs on here. USC owns the tie-breaker over the Rebels. 5-3 for the 1st out. 2 outs to go. Arkansas and MSU are tied 2-2 in the B8. MSU needs to win there to help USC.
9:55 - Crisp K and Bangs F-9. Lail walks with 2 outs. Wingo up. Runners at 1&2, 2 outs. Wingo K's. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 7-5. Bangs is back on the mound.
9:45 - DIsher lead soff the B8 with an infield single into the hole. The theow from SS was wide of the bag. Crisp is up. Tanner comes out for a chat.
9:35 - Bangs gets Lima to pop to 2B. Big out there. 2 outs. Runners at 1&3. There's a drive to LCF. Homerun. It's 7-5 USC. Thisone just got interesting. UT is back in it. 6-3 for the 3rd out. We go the B8 with USC leading 7-5.
9:30 - UT has runners at the corners with 0 outs in the T8. Single and a E4 by Wingo. Godwin could be nearing the end here. If 1 more batter reaches, Tanner may make a move. K for the first out. The dangerous Lima is up. 1-0 count. Here comes Tanner. Bangs is the new pitcher. Godwin leaves to a standing ovation. 7.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 BB, 6 K, 126 pitches. 80 strikes. Great performance.
9:20 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B7. 5-3, F-8, L-9. We go to the T8 with USC leading 7-2. Godwin back out. But it looks like Bangs is ready if he has to come in. Cisco was warming up as well.
9:15 - UT has runners at 1&2, 2 outs in the T7. Godwin just issued a walk. He's thrown 108 pitches. Here comes Calvi. Bangs is warming up in the bullpen. Godwin stays in. 1-3 groundout. We go to the B7 with USC leading 7-2.
9:10 - UT's Danny Lima leads off the T7 with a solo HR to LCF. It's 7-2 USC. There's a single to LF. 1-3 comebacker. Godwin looks at 2B but throws to 1B for the out. 1 down, runner at 2B.
9:05 - Havens thrown out trying to steal with Merrifield at the plate. We go to the T7 with USC leading 7-1. Godwin has 4 K's and 4 hits through six innings of work. He's been impressive in a pressure-packed game.
8:55 - Lail led off the B6 with a single but Wingo bunted into a 5-4-3 DP. 2 outs for Havens. He walks for the second time tonight. 52 BB on the year. Merrifield up.
8:50 - Godwin gives up a 1-out single in the T6. That snaps his streak of retiring 10 UT batters in a row. K for the 2nd out. P-5 for the third out. We go to the B6 with USC leading, 7-1. UK leads Ole Miss, 7-0, in the T7. It looks like this race is going down to the final day.
8:45 - Bangs K's. FIVE RUNS FOR USC. We go to the T6 with USC leading 7-1. It's up to Godwin now.
8:40 - Here wo go. Crisp up. First pitch is lined into CF for a base hit!! 2 runs score. Smoak and Darnell cross home plate. It's 7-1 USC! Huge inning for the Gamecocks. They needed this.
8:35 - After the WP and a IBB to Disher, here comes the UT coach. Pitching change. It's 5-1 USC in the B5. 2 outs., Crisp due. He's K'd twice tonight. He's due for a hit. He came in batting .308.
8:30 - Darnell works a walk after a tough battle. Bases are loaded for Disher here in the B5. High drama here at SFF. Disher can really break this one open. 2-1. Wild Pitch!! Merrifield scores. It's 5-1 USC. Runners at 2&3, 2 outs. As good as a base hit.
8:25 - Havens L-8. 2 outs. Merrifield up. He rips one down the LF line! It goes into the LF corner. Here comes Wingo. He can run. No throw. Wingo scores! It's 4-1 USC! Huge hit there for the freshman. Smoak IBB. Runners on 1&2, 2 outs for Darnell.
8:20 - Wingo walks with 1 out. Here comes the UT coach. UK leads Ole Miss, 7-0, in the B4. The Wildcats can swing the bats. Havens up.
8:18 - Bangs leads off the B5 for USC. He's 0-for-1. He belts one deep to LF. It way over the fence!! No doubt about it. USC leads 3-1. 2nd HR of the season for Bangs. That snaps the streak of 10 in a row by the UT pitcher. Ray Tanner's decision to make him the DH pays off.
8:15 - We have a pitcher's duel here at SFF. Goidwin retires the side in order in the T5. F-8, K, F-8. He's retired 9 in a row. We go to the B5 with USC leading, 2-1.
8:10 - USC down 1-2-3 inthe B4. 5-3, X-2, K. That's 10 in a row by the UT starter. USC hasn't done anything with the bats since the B1. We go to the T5 with USC leading 2-1. Godwin has given up 3 hits in the first 4 Inn.
8:05 - We're in the B4. Kentucky leads Ole Miss, 3-0 in the B4 in Lexington. That's good news for USC. If you're a USC fan, you want UK to sweep the Rebels at this point. Darnell 5-3 for the 1st out in the B4.
8:00 - Godwin mows down UT in order in the T4. Nothing close to a hit. F-9, F-8, K. Th ewind is howling now. The flags are straight out. We go to the B4 with USC leading, 2-1.
7:55 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B3. K, 5-3, L-4. Smoak hit the ball well but it was right at the UT 2B. 7 in a row set down by the UT P. We go to the T4 with USC leading, 2-1.
7:47 - 1-3 comebacker on a checked swing fo rthe 3rd out in the T3. We go to the B3 with USC leading 2-1. Top of the order for USC. Havens, Merrifield, Smoak due.
7:45 - Leadoff walk for UT. But there are now 2 outs on a F-8 and P-6 by UT's No. 3 and 4 hitters. Goidwin got the job done there. Runner still at first.
7:40 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B2. F-8, F-9, X-2. We go to the T3 with USC leading 2-1. UT's 2-3-4 hitters are due. This will be the 75th inning of the season for Nick Godwin.
7:35 - Godwin finally gets out of the T2 with a 6-3 smash right at Havens. He has 3 assists already. We go to the B2 with USC leading 2-1. Bangs leads off for USC. He's batting .250 (6 for 24).
7:30 - K and F-9 to start the T2. There's a roller to 2B. Wingo tried to hurry a throw but the ball gets past Smoak. UT runner to 2B. 2 outs, runner on 2nd. Single to LF. Run scores. Crisp held onto the ball. He may have had a play at the plate. It's 2-1 USC. There's another single. Runners at the corners, 2 outs. 2-out lightning for UT here in the T2.
7:25 - Crisp K's to end the B1. We go to the T2 with USC leading, 2-0.
7:22 - Disher up. He rips one down the RF line. Fair ball!! Smoak scores. It's 2-0 USC. Great start for the Gamecocks both offensively and defensively. Disher has 51 RBI this season.
7:20 - Early on, USC looks like a different team tonight. They seem to have a lot more energy and bounce in their step. We'll see if it continues. USC is 20-8 when its scores in the first inning and 27-9 when it scores first. Darnell K's.
7:17 - Merrifield sacrifices for the team-leading 20th time this season. Havens at 2B, 1 out. Smoak singles to CF! Havens scores. It's 1-0 USC. Smoak has 195 career RBI, three shy of the school record. He has 60 RBI this season.
7:15 - As I expected, UT starter Bryan Morgado throws hard. He has 100 K's in 75.2 IP. Havens works a walk to start the B1. That's his 51st walk of the seaaon. He leads the SEC in that category.
7:10 - 2-out walk. But there's another 6-3 groundout. Good start for Godwin except for the walk. We go to the B1 with the score 0-0. Havens leads off for USC.
7:00 - We're almost underway here at Sarge Frye Field. The first batter steps in. Godwin toes the rubber. First pitch is fouled off. 6-3 groundout. Good start for Godwin.
6:45 - Alabama beat UGA, 17-13, in the first game of a DH in Athens, so you can eliminate a UGA sweep from the below scenario. Alabama is temporarily at 15-13, tied with Florida. Game 2 of the DH is upcoming. We'll try to keep you updated with the scores tonight.
6:10 - Here is tonight's starting lineup for USC with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.358-15 HR-48 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.322-3-20)
Smoak - 3 (.380-20-59)
Darnell - 5 (.308-17-72)
Disher - 2 (.310-16-50)
Crisp - 7 (.308-2-19)
Bangs - DH (.250-1-3)
Lail - 9 (.233-5-26)
Wingo - 4 (.218-6-15)
Godwin - P (5-3, 3.00 ERA, 72.0 IP, 51 hits, 25 runs, 64 K, 18 BB)
The biggest change from last night is Tanner has benched Enders, put Disher behind the plate and moved Bangs into the DH spot. By doing that, he dropped lail to 8th in the order. It's just the 4th time this season Lail has batted 8th. Bangs will be the DH for the 7th time.
5:20 - We're here at Sarge Frye Field for Game 2 of the USC-UT series. After last night's 13-2 drubbing, the Gamecocks are in must-win mode for the next two games to have a realistic chance of making the SEC Tournament. They can make it with one win over the Vols, but UK would have to sweep Ole Miss or Miss. State would have to sweep Arkansas. The chances of either of those occurring is slim. But that's why they play the games. If UGA sweeps Alabama and USC wins 1 of 2, both USC and Alabama would finish 14-16. Alabama would win on the tie-breaker. So, the task is simple: Win 2 and USC is going to Hoover. Lose 1 and they're probably not going. Lose 2 and they're definitely not going. Nick Godwin will make his second career SEC start for the Gamecocks tonight. He's 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 72.0 IP. He's allowed just 51 hits with 64 K and 18 BB. Here are the current SEC East standings after Thursday's games and SEC Tourney Seeding:
SCORES FROM THUR. 5/15:
Tennessee 13, USC 2
Alabama at Georgia (PPD)(DH 5/16)
Miss. State 6, Arkansas 5
LSU 6, Auburn 4
Florida 8, Vanderbilt 6
Kentucky 12, Ole Miss 4
SEC EAST STANDINGS:
Georgia 19-7-1
Vanderbilt 15-12
Florida 15-13
Kentucky 15-13
South Carolina 13-15
Tennessee 12-16
SEC TOURNAMENT SEEDING:
1. Georgia (19-7-1)
2. LSU (16-11-1)
3. Vanderbilt (15-12)
4. Kentucky (15-13)(UK 2-1)
5. Florida (15-13)
6. Alabama (14-13)
7. Ole Miss (14-14)
8. Arkansas (13-14)
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9. South Carolina (13-15)
10. Tennessee (12-16)
11. Auburn (11-17)
12. Miss. State (8-20)
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10:05 - It's never easy, as Ray Tanner often says. Lockwood steps in. He's the go-ahead run. Farotto drops in a curve. 1-1. High. 2-1. Strike. 2-2. High 3-2. Runners will bemoving. Alley will drive home 2. Farotto sticking with curves. Strike Three!!! USC wins 7-5. WE GO TO SUNDAY. 1 GAME. USC WINS AND THEY"RE GOING TO HOOVER.
10:00 - 1 out walk. UT's No. 3 hitter is up. Tying run at the plate. Tanner is out to talk to Bangs.. Fly ball to deep RF. But it's caught about 10 feet in front of the warning track. That ball looked gone when it left the bat. I think the wind knocked it down. 2 outs. UT's No. 4 batter is up. walk. UT has runners on 1&2, 2 outs. Lead run at the plate. Here comes tanner. That's it for Bangs. Alex Farotto coming in.
9:58 - UK has beaten Ole Miss, 9-0. That helps USC. Both teams would be 14-15 if USC hangs on here. USC owns the tie-breaker over the Rebels. 5-3 for the 1st out. 2 outs to go. Arkansas and MSU are tied 2-2 in the B8. MSU needs to win there to help USC.
9:55 - Crisp K and Bangs F-9. Lail walks with 2 outs. Wingo up. Runners at 1&2, 2 outs. Wingo K's. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 7-5. Bangs is back on the mound.
9:45 - DIsher lead soff the B8 with an infield single into the hole. The theow from SS was wide of the bag. Crisp is up. Tanner comes out for a chat.
9:35 - Bangs gets Lima to pop to 2B. Big out there. 2 outs. Runners at 1&3. There's a drive to LCF. Homerun. It's 7-5 USC. Thisone just got interesting. UT is back in it. 6-3 for the 3rd out. We go the B8 with USC leading 7-5.
9:30 - UT has runners at the corners with 0 outs in the T8. Single and a E4 by Wingo. Godwin could be nearing the end here. If 1 more batter reaches, Tanner may make a move. K for the first out. The dangerous Lima is up. 1-0 count. Here comes Tanner. Bangs is the new pitcher. Godwin leaves to a standing ovation. 7.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 BB, 6 K, 126 pitches. 80 strikes. Great performance.
9:20 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B7. 5-3, F-8, L-9. We go to the T8 with USC leading 7-2. Godwin back out. But it looks like Bangs is ready if he has to come in. Cisco was warming up as well.
9:15 - UT has runners at 1&2, 2 outs in the T7. Godwin just issued a walk. He's thrown 108 pitches. Here comes Calvi. Bangs is warming up in the bullpen. Godwin stays in. 1-3 groundout. We go to the B7 with USC leading 7-2.
9:10 - UT's Danny Lima leads off the T7 with a solo HR to LCF. It's 7-2 USC. There's a single to LF. 1-3 comebacker. Godwin looks at 2B but throws to 1B for the out. 1 down, runner at 2B.
9:05 - Havens thrown out trying to steal with Merrifield at the plate. We go to the T7 with USC leading 7-1. Godwin has 4 K's and 4 hits through six innings of work. He's been impressive in a pressure-packed game.
8:55 - Lail led off the B6 with a single but Wingo bunted into a 5-4-3 DP. 2 outs for Havens. He walks for the second time tonight. 52 BB on the year. Merrifield up.
8:50 - Godwin gives up a 1-out single in the T6. That snaps his streak of retiring 10 UT batters in a row. K for the 2nd out. P-5 for the third out. We go to the B6 with USC leading, 7-1. UK leads Ole Miss, 7-0, in the T7. It looks like this race is going down to the final day.
8:45 - Bangs K's. FIVE RUNS FOR USC. We go to the T6 with USC leading 7-1. It's up to Godwin now.
8:40 - Here wo go. Crisp up. First pitch is lined into CF for a base hit!! 2 runs score. Smoak and Darnell cross home plate. It's 7-1 USC! Huge inning for the Gamecocks. They needed this.
8:35 - After the WP and a IBB to Disher, here comes the UT coach. Pitching change. It's 5-1 USC in the B5. 2 outs., Crisp due. He's K'd twice tonight. He's due for a hit. He came in batting .308.
8:30 - Darnell works a walk after a tough battle. Bases are loaded for Disher here in the B5. High drama here at SFF. Disher can really break this one open. 2-1. Wild Pitch!! Merrifield scores. It's 5-1 USC. Runners at 2&3, 2 outs. As good as a base hit.
8:25 - Havens L-8. 2 outs. Merrifield up. He rips one down the LF line! It goes into the LF corner. Here comes Wingo. He can run. No throw. Wingo scores! It's 4-1 USC! Huge hit there for the freshman. Smoak IBB. Runners on 1&2, 2 outs for Darnell.
8:20 - Wingo walks with 1 out. Here comes the UT coach. UK leads Ole Miss, 7-0, in the B4. The Wildcats can swing the bats. Havens up.
8:18 - Bangs leads off the B5 for USC. He's 0-for-1. He belts one deep to LF. It way over the fence!! No doubt about it. USC leads 3-1. 2nd HR of the season for Bangs. That snaps the streak of 10 in a row by the UT pitcher. Ray Tanner's decision to make him the DH pays off.
8:15 - We have a pitcher's duel here at SFF. Goidwin retires the side in order in the T5. F-8, K, F-8. He's retired 9 in a row. We go to the B5 with USC leading, 2-1.
8:10 - USC down 1-2-3 inthe B4. 5-3, X-2, K. That's 10 in a row by the UT starter. USC hasn't done anything with the bats since the B1. We go to the T5 with USC leading 2-1. Godwin has given up 3 hits in the first 4 Inn.
8:05 - We're in the B4. Kentucky leads Ole Miss, 3-0 in the B4 in Lexington. That's good news for USC. If you're a USC fan, you want UK to sweep the Rebels at this point. Darnell 5-3 for the 1st out in the B4.
8:00 - Godwin mows down UT in order in the T4. Nothing close to a hit. F-9, F-8, K. Th ewind is howling now. The flags are straight out. We go to the B4 with USC leading, 2-1.
7:55 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B3. K, 5-3, L-4. Smoak hit the ball well but it was right at the UT 2B. 7 in a row set down by the UT P. We go to the T4 with USC leading, 2-1.
7:47 - 1-3 comebacker on a checked swing fo rthe 3rd out in the T3. We go to the B3 with USC leading 2-1. Top of the order for USC. Havens, Merrifield, Smoak due.
7:45 - Leadoff walk for UT. But there are now 2 outs on a F-8 and P-6 by UT's No. 3 and 4 hitters. Goidwin got the job done there. Runner still at first.
7:40 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B2. F-8, F-9, X-2. We go to the T3 with USC leading 2-1. UT's 2-3-4 hitters are due. This will be the 75th inning of the season for Nick Godwin.
7:35 - Godwin finally gets out of the T2 with a 6-3 smash right at Havens. He has 3 assists already. We go to the B2 with USC leading 2-1. Bangs leads off for USC. He's batting .250 (6 for 24).
7:30 - K and F-9 to start the T2. There's a roller to 2B. Wingo tried to hurry a throw but the ball gets past Smoak. UT runner to 2B. 2 outs, runner on 2nd. Single to LF. Run scores. Crisp held onto the ball. He may have had a play at the plate. It's 2-1 USC. There's another single. Runners at the corners, 2 outs. 2-out lightning for UT here in the T2.
7:25 - Crisp K's to end the B1. We go to the T2 with USC leading, 2-0.
7:22 - Disher up. He rips one down the RF line. Fair ball!! Smoak scores. It's 2-0 USC. Great start for the Gamecocks both offensively and defensively. Disher has 51 RBI this season.
7:20 - Early on, USC looks like a different team tonight. They seem to have a lot more energy and bounce in their step. We'll see if it continues. USC is 20-8 when its scores in the first inning and 27-9 when it scores first. Darnell K's.
7:17 - Merrifield sacrifices for the team-leading 20th time this season. Havens at 2B, 1 out. Smoak singles to CF! Havens scores. It's 1-0 USC. Smoak has 195 career RBI, three shy of the school record. He has 60 RBI this season.
7:15 - As I expected, UT starter Bryan Morgado throws hard. He has 100 K's in 75.2 IP. Havens works a walk to start the B1. That's his 51st walk of the seaaon. He leads the SEC in that category.
7:10 - 2-out walk. But there's another 6-3 groundout. Good start for Godwin except for the walk. We go to the B1 with the score 0-0. Havens leads off for USC.
7:00 - We're almost underway here at Sarge Frye Field. The first batter steps in. Godwin toes the rubber. First pitch is fouled off. 6-3 groundout. Good start for Godwin.
6:45 - Alabama beat UGA, 17-13, in the first game of a DH in Athens, so you can eliminate a UGA sweep from the below scenario. Alabama is temporarily at 15-13, tied with Florida. Game 2 of the DH is upcoming. We'll try to keep you updated with the scores tonight.
6:10 - Here is tonight's starting lineup for USC with current stats:
Havens - 6 (.358-15 HR-48 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.322-3-20)
Smoak - 3 (.380-20-59)
Darnell - 5 (.308-17-72)
Disher - 2 (.310-16-50)
Crisp - 7 (.308-2-19)
Bangs - DH (.250-1-3)
Lail - 9 (.233-5-26)
Wingo - 4 (.218-6-15)
Godwin - P (5-3, 3.00 ERA, 72.0 IP, 51 hits, 25 runs, 64 K, 18 BB)
The biggest change from last night is Tanner has benched Enders, put Disher behind the plate and moved Bangs into the DH spot. By doing that, he dropped lail to 8th in the order. It's just the 4th time this season Lail has batted 8th. Bangs will be the DH for the 7th time.
5:20 - We're here at Sarge Frye Field for Game 2 of the USC-UT series. After last night's 13-2 drubbing, the Gamecocks are in must-win mode for the next two games to have a realistic chance of making the SEC Tournament. They can make it with one win over the Vols, but UK would have to sweep Ole Miss or Miss. State would have to sweep Arkansas. The chances of either of those occurring is slim. But that's why they play the games. If UGA sweeps Alabama and USC wins 1 of 2, both USC and Alabama would finish 14-16. Alabama would win on the tie-breaker. So, the task is simple: Win 2 and USC is going to Hoover. Lose 1 and they're probably not going. Lose 2 and they're definitely not going. Nick Godwin will make his second career SEC start for the Gamecocks tonight. He's 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 72.0 IP. He's allowed just 51 hits with 64 K and 18 BB. Here are the current SEC East standings after Thursday's games and SEC Tourney Seeding:
SCORES FROM THUR. 5/15:
Tennessee 13, USC 2
Alabama at Georgia (PPD)(DH 5/16)
Miss. State 6, Arkansas 5
LSU 6, Auburn 4
Florida 8, Vanderbilt 6
Kentucky 12, Ole Miss 4
SEC EAST STANDINGS:
Georgia 19-7-1
Vanderbilt 15-12
Florida 15-13
Kentucky 15-13
South Carolina 13-15
Tennessee 12-16
SEC TOURNAMENT SEEDING:
1. Georgia (19-7-1)
2. LSU (16-11-1)
3. Vanderbilt (15-12)
4. Kentucky (15-13)(UK 2-1)
5. Florida (15-13)
6. Alabama (14-13)
7. Ole Miss (14-14)
8. Arkansas (13-14)
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9. South Carolina (13-15)
10. Tennessee (12-16)
11. Auburn (11-17)
12. Miss. State (8-20)
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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 @.