Here is your SEC Recap for March 25th.
#6 South Carolina 9 #1 Florida 2
Gainesville, Fla. – Junior left-hander Michael Roth allowed just two runs in a season-high 8.1 innings and was backed by an offense that pounded out 13 hits as fourth ranked South Carolina (17-4, 3-1 SEC) defeated top ranked Florida (20-3, 3-1) 9-2 on Friday evening in game one of a three-game SEC baseball series at McKethan Stadium. For the third straight game, all nine position starters for Carolina had at least one hit. Game two of the series set for 7 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised on Fox Sports Florida and can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network and at GamecocksOnline.com.
Roth was strong throughout the night and scattered 10 hits while keeping the Gators off the scoreboard until the ninth inning. He struck out six batters and walked just two as well. With the win, Roth is now 5-1 on the year. Florida starter Brian Johnson had allowed just five runs on the season before Friday night’s game but allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He is now 4-1 for the season.
South Carolina Recap
Florida Recap
#12 Arkansas 2 #2 Vanderbilt 1
FAYETTEVILLE – James McCann drove in the game-tying and game-winning run with a two-run infield single in the bottom of the eighth, while Arkansas pitchers Cade Lynch and DJ Baxendale combined to allow just one run as the Razorbacks defeated No. 2 Vanderbilt 2-1 on Friday night in front of 7,937 fans at Baum Stadium.
“This series is real big for us, obviously,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “On the road we lost a one-run game and won an extra-inning game. We’ve been playing tight games. We just haven’t made that play or that pitch or got that big hit. To win on Friday is great, but we still have two more to go.”
Arkansas moves to 18-4 on the season and 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while Vanderbilt falls to 20-3 and 2-2 in league play.
Arkansas Recap
Vanderbilt Recap
ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman right-hander Kurt McCune on Friday night fired the first complete game by an LSU pitcher this season, leading the ninth-ranked Tigers to a 7-3 win over Georgia at Foley Field.
LSU improved to 17-5 overall, 1-3 in the SEC with the victory. Georgia dropped to 9-13, 1-3 in the conference.
Game 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT Saturday. LSU freshman right-hander Kevin Gausman will start on the mound for the Tigers, while Georgia will counter with junior right-hander Michael Palazzone.
Mississippi State 7 #22 Auburn 6
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Cody Freeman’s RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Mississippi State baseball team its first walk-off win of the season – a dramatic 7-6 triumph over No. 21 Auburn in a Southeastern Conference game played Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs scored seven runs after two were out to win its conference home opener. With the victory, MSU improved to 16-6 overall and 2-2 in league play, while Auburn lost on Friday night for a second straight week, while falling to 14-8 and 2-2.
With a tied score in the Bulldog ninth inning, Wes Thigpen led off the inning with a base hit to right field. After a sacrifice-bunt by Jaron Shepherd, Nick Vickerson could not advance the runner after grounding out to third base. Freeman then lined a 1-2 pitch to left center, scoring pinch runner Sam Frost with the game-winner.
Mississippi State Recap
Auburn Recap
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A complete game shutout from senior righty Nathan Kilcrease earned the Alabama baseball team (16-7, 3-1 SEC) the 4-0 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (14-9, 2-2 SEC), Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Kilcrease (4-1) threw a gem, peppering the zone all night while going the full nine, striking out six and walking none. The complete game shutout was the first of his career and the complete game was his third during his time at the Capstone. Of his 21 non-strikeout outs, 14 were on the ground – including two double plays – while only five were in the air.
“(Kilcrease) commanded all of his pitches, and he never really let them make a run,” UA head coach Mitch Gaspard said. “He worked from ahead all night and was just really locked in. When it got late, he just had that look that we’ve seen before that he just was not going to let them score tonight. I’m glad he’s on our team, he’s a good one.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Matt Crouse tossed his second complete game in the last three weeks on Friday, holding the Volunteers to one run as Ole Miss (17-6, 2-2 SEC) defeated Tennessee (17-5, 1-3 SEC) by a score of 6-1 to claim the series opener.
Crouse (6-0) scattered five hits over nine innings and struck out six batters with two walks as he helped lead the Rebels to the win.
Steven Gruver (3-2) suffered the loss for the Vols as he allowed five runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.
Ole Miss Recap
Tennessee Recap
