USC 2nd baseman Max Schrock is helped off the field after the 10th inning collision

USC was eliminated from the SEC baseball tournament in Hoover, AL Thursday afternoon by Vanderbilt 4-3 in ten innings.  It’s the first time the Gamecocks went 0-2 in the tournament since 2010.  The Gamecocks did go on to win the national championship that year.  And after closing the season by losing four of their last five games against SEC teams, the Gamecocks have to be somewhat concerned about earning a host role for the NCAA regionals.

The Gamecocks fell behind 3-0 in the second inning thanks to a throwing error by pitcher Jordan Montgomery who air mailed first base on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line with runners on first and second.  Both runners scored and the Commodores later added a run on a sacrifice fly.

But Montgomery settled in and dominated the Commodores until being pulled with two outs in the 8th.  He gave up just five hits and none of the three runs against him were earned.

The Gamecocks chipped away at Vandy starter Kevin Ziomek scoring single runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings to tie the game.  LB Dantzler delivered the equalizer in the seventh, a lead off home run just over the right field wall, his 15th home run of the season.

The Gamecocks had numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game but again the clutch hit escaped them.  They finished 1-14 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base.

The Commodores mounted their winning rally in the tenth against three Gamecock relievers.  Adam Westmoreland started the inning after coming on for Montgomery in the eighth.  Tony Kemp led off with a single.  Righthander Patrick Sullivan was brought on to face the right handed hitting Xavier Turner, and Turner singled putting runners on the corners.

Chad Holbrook then went to closer Tyler Webb who struck out Mike Yastrzemski and then issued a free pass to Connor Harrell.  Holbrook brought the infield in and Conrad Gregor slapped a ball past the drawn in Max Schrock at second base to score Kemp with the winning run.

On the play, Schrock collided with Harrell.  Replay shows the ball was past the two at the point of collision.  Interference was not called.  Schrock did suffer a concussion leaving his availability for practice early next week in question.

Westmoreland took the loss for USC and is 7-3.  The Gamecocks are now 39-18 and will learn Sunday night if they will host a regional.  The entire tournament field will be announced Monday.

AUDIO: Chad Holbrook & players take questions [4:55] 

(LB Dantzler, Jordan Montgomery, Grayson Greiner)

AUDIO: Chad Holbrook takes questions from the media [9:15]

Box Score

The SEC has passed along highlights from USC’s loss to Vanderbilt Thursday at the SEC Tournament, and at the end of the short video you can see the final play of the game when Gamecock second baseman Max Schrock collided with Vanderbilt’s Connor Harrell on the infield. You can see the play in the final :30 of the video clip. 

Vandy had the bases loaded with one out when so Schrock was playing in on the grass when Conrad Gregor hit a grounder towards the right side of the infield. Schrock collided with Harrell as he was trying to make a play on the ball. If you are wondering why interference wasn’t called, Gamecock skipper Chad Holbrook said he was told by the umpire the ball was already in the outfield and past Schrock so there was no call to make. 

What do you think, right or wrong call?

Mississippi State got the better of Gamecock ace closer Tyler Webb with two runs in the ninth

Mississippi State worked 17 innings for a win over Missouri Tuesday night.  The Bulldogs didn’t have to work as long Wednesday night, but it took their last at bat again to pull out the victory.  The Bulldogs broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the 9th by scoring twice off  relievers Adam Westmoreland and Tyler Webb to beat the Gamecocks 5-3.

The Gamecocks fall into the loser’s bracket and will face top seed Vanderbilt in Thursday’s second game.  Mississippi State advances to the winner’s bracket and will take on Texas A&M Thursday night.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out against Westmoreland.  Webb then entered the game and promptly yielded a RBI single to Wes Rea, his third hit of the night.  The Gamecocks foiled an attempted squeeze bunt for the second out of the inning.  But Demarcus Henderson provided an insurance run with an RBI single to left. The inning ended when third baseman Chase Vergason was interfered with while attempting to field a ground ball.

AUDIO: Tyler Webb discusses the 9th inning [1:21]

In the bottom of the ninth, Graham Saiko singled with one out bringing Vergason to the plate as the tying run, but he flied to center.  Joey Pankake was the Gamecocks’ last hope and he ended the game with a pop up to short.

AUDIO: Chad Holbrook reviews loss to Bulldogs [3:11]

AUDIO: 2nd baseman Max Schrock talks about the loss [1:31]

Mississippi State took a quick 2-0 lead off Gamecock starter Nolan Belcher as five base runners reached in the first.    Rea and  Henderson had RBI singles.  The Bulldogs made it a 3-0 game in the third with a lead off double by Brett Pirtle, a sacrifice bunt by Rea and a sacrifice fly to center by Henderson.

State had a chance to blow the game open in the fourth loading the bases with one out.  But Belcher induced Hunter Renfroe to pop up into foul territory down the first base line, and leftfielder Saiko made a diving stab of a sinking liner by Pirtle to end the threat.

The Gamecocks tied the game with three runs in the fourth off Bulldog starter Luis Pollorena.   Back to back singles by  Pankake and LB Dantzler followed by a walk to Grayson Greiner loaded the bases with one out.  Max Schrock also drew a walk to force in the Gamecocks’ first run.  Brison Celek then tied the game with a sharp single up the middle. Freshman Myles Gentry replaced Poilorena and struck out  Connor Bright and Tanner English to end the inning with runners on first and second.

The Gamecocks threatened in the fifth.  With one out,  Vergason walked and Pankake hit a grounder to short.  Adam Frazier threw wild of second trying to get Vergason putting runners on the corners.  But Dantzler and Greiner struck out to end the inning.

The Gamecocks also had runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings but could not push across a run.  Gentry worked the final 5.2 innings and struck out a career tying 8 while allowing just three hits and no runs.

Gentry earned the win to improve to 4-0 and Westmoreland took the loss and is 7-2.

The Gamecocks fall to 39-17 and will send out lefthander Jordan Montgomery to face Vandy junior lefthander Kevin Ziomek who is 10-2 with a 1.99 ERA.  Ziomek beat the Gamecocks 3-2 in Columbia May 3rd scattering eight hits and allowing one run.

Box Score