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This is our day 1 thread at the 2019 SEC baseball Tournament where we will keep you updated with all the action and how it relates to the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Game 1 – Florida vs. Texas A&M
- Coming into this game Texas A&M is a lock for the NCAA Tournament with a shot at being a top 16 seed and hosting a regional.
- Florida comes into this game on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament with an RPI of 25, but a conference record of just 13-17.
- Sophomore Asa Lacy was very solid in this game for the most part with 8 strikeouts and allowing just 4 hits, but he was let down by his defense and walks. In the end he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) and left the game with a no-decision.
- Sophomore Tommy Mace was just as good for Florida and was also let down by his defense and walks. He gave up 3 runs (2 earned) — all coming in the third inning — on 4 hits and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts.
- The shortstops are showing out in this one as Brady McConnell had a big two-out, two-RBI single for Florida in the fifth. While Braden Shewmake is 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
- Texas A&M outfielder Jonathan Ducoff hit a huge 3-run home run in the 8th to give the Aggies a 7-5 lead. It was the second home run of the inning as Mikey Hoehner led off the inning with a solo home run.
- With the Gators season on the line, the comeback to tie it up in the top of the 9th with some clutch hitting by Austin Langworthy and Nelson Maldonado, the team’s veterans.
- Ducoff picked up his fourth RBI of the game with a walk-off single in the 10th.
- FINAL SCORE: Texas A&M – 8 Florida – 7 (10)
- With the win — Texas A&M stays in the hunt to host a regional and is likey a top 16 seed right now.
- With the loss — Florida’s season is likely over despite a top 30 RPI.
Game 2 – Missouri vs. Ole Miss
- Pitching matchup: Konnor Ash (Missouri) 4.53 ERA/49.2IP/60K/27BB vs. Will Ethridge (Ole Miss) 3.16 ERA/74IP/61K/22BB
- Missouri jumps on the board early with a two-out RBI single from Thomas Broyles in the second.
- Konnor Ash was very good for Missouri pitching 4 scoreless innings and allowing just 3 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. But the sophomore who was primarily used out of the bullpen this season had to be pulled after throwing 71 pitches.
- Ole Miss came back to take the lead in the 5th with RBI hits from Thomas Dillard and Cole Zabowski.
- Will Ethridge pitched a gem for Ole Miss giving up just 1 earned run on 7 hits and no walks with 6 strikeouts over 7 innings. He leaves the game with a 2-1 lead.
- Ryan Olenek came on in the ninth to get the save for Ole Miss.
- FINAL SCORE: Ole Miss – 2 Missouri – 1
- With the win — Ole Miss keeps it’s hopes alive of earning a top 16 seed an hosting a regional
- With the loss — Missouri’s season is likely over despite a top 30 RPI
Game 3 – Tennessee vs. Auburn
- Pitching Matchup: Garrett Stallings (Tennessee) 3.12 ERA/92.1IP/98K/13BB vs. Elliot Anderson (Auburn) 4.13 ERA/52.1IP/53K/21BB
- The Volunteers got the scoring started with a run in the first, but that was all they would get after having the bases loaded with 1 out.
- Stallings, who normally has great control, has walked two batters in three innings. Auburn capitalized with a bloop hit by Edouard Julien in the second that gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
- Tennessee was able to tie it up in the 5th but they could have done a lot more damage. They had runners on second and third with no outs and their two and three hitters coming, but Auburn was able to limit the damage to one run.
- Auburn was able to regain the lead in the bottom half thanks to a couple of singles and a perfectly executed squeeze play by Judd Ward. Ward would later put the game out of reach with a 2-run home run, giving him 3 RBI on the night.
- Auburn’s Bailey Horn was great in relief giving up just 1 earned run (a solo home run in the 9th) on 1 hit and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts over 4 innings.
- After throwing 91 pitches on Saturday at LSU, Auburn closer Cody Greenhill came on to get the last two outs of the game.
- FINAL SCORE: Auburn – 5 Tennessee – 3
- With the win — Auburn locks up a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and the hometown team gets to stick around for a few more days.
- With the loss — Tennessee is likely still safe for the NCAA Tournament with a top 20 RPI, but now they’ll feel a little uncomfortable until the official announcement on Monday.
Game 4 – South Carolina vs. LSU
- Pitching matchup: Cam Tringali (South Carolina) vs. Cole Henry (LSU)
- LSU shortstop Josh Smith put the first tally on the board with a blast in the bottom of the first.
- South Carolina answered back with 5 runs in the top of the second. Luke Berryhill have the big blow in the inning two-RBI single with two outs.
- After two quick outs to start the bottom of the second, four straight batters reached for LSU. The last of which plated a pair on a single by Cade Beloso.
- LSU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to some shaky South Carolina pitching as they hit a batter and had three wild pitches in the inning. Smith and Daniel Cabrera each picked up an RBI in the inning, while Antoine Duplantis had a double.
- The Tigers added a couple more and are up 8-5 in the seventh.