1.9K
After a very late night on day two of the 2019 SEC Baseball Tournament with LSU and Mississippi State playing a thrilling 17-inning game, we’re back at it for day three.
Today we should start to see a lot of team’s throw out their aces, so I expect to see some very good pitching performances on Thursday.
Game 1 – Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M
- Pitching matchups: Fr. Doug Nikhazy (Ole Miss – 3.54/68.2IP/67K/25BB vs. Jr. John Doxakis (Texas A&M – 2.01/89.2IP/96K/22BB)
- Through three innings Texas A&M starter John Doxakis has faced one over the minimum, while Ole Miss starter Doug Nikhazy has faced the minimum. A slow start in Hoover on day three.
- After six innings there still isn’t a run on the board. And there are only two hits in the game, and both of those came from the same team…
- Doxakis exited the game after eight shutout, no-hit innings issuing 4 walks and striking out 10.
- With Doxakis gone, Ole Miss started off the ninth with a base hit from leadoff hitter Thomas Dillard who later came around to score on a double by Cole Zabowski giving Ole Miss the lead.
- Texas A&M got a double in the ninth, but Parker Caracci was able to strand him there for the save.
- FINAL SCORE: Ole Miss – 1 Texas A&M – 0
- With the win — Ole Miss keeps its slim chances of hosting a regional alive.
- With the loss — Texas A&M is eliminated from the SEC Baseball Tournament and will have to hope they’ve done enough to earn a regional host and top 16 seed. They currently have an RPI of 15.
Game 2 – Auburn vs. LSU
- Pitching matchups: So. Jack Owen (Auburn – 2.37/49.1IP/46K/8BB) vs. Fr. Landon Marceaux (LSU – 5.70/42.2IP/33K/17BB)
- LSU did what Auburn couldn’t do in their half of the first inning and manufactured a run after a leadoff hit. Auburn had a runner at third with one out and couldn’t get him in. LSU faced the same situation and was able to plate the run.
- Auburn had a chance to get into the LSU bullpen after they played a 17-inning game the night before, but after leaving the bases loaded in the first, the bats have gone silent and LSU starter Landon Marceaux has settled in.
- LSU basically gifted Auburn two runs in the 7th with one error to leadoff the inning, and another play that could have been ruled an error — and had the play been made it would have been the final out. But instead, Auburn took the lead thanks to a two-out double by Judd Ward — his third hit of the game.
- The Tigers of LSU answered right back in the bottom of the seventh to tie it up on a two-out single by shortstop Josh Smith.
- Both starting pitchers were great in this game, but neither will factor into the decision. Owen last 5.2 innings and gave up 1 earned run on 5 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts, while Marceaux gave up 2 unearned runs on 7 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
- Auburn was able to scratch across a run in the 8th to regain the lead thanks to a double by Matt Scheffler and a two-out single by Edouard Julien.
- LSU walked it off in the bottom of the ninth in the weirdest way possible. With runners on second and third with one out, a wild pitch scored one run. The catcher kicked the ball away and couldn’t find it behind the hitter. The Auburn first baseman then picked up the ball and threw it away, which allowed the runner from second to come home and score.
- FINAL SCORE: LSU – 4 Auburn – 3
- With the win — LSU hopes of hosting a regional remain alive.
- With the loss — The loss doesn’t do anything for Auburn. They’re firmly in the NCAA Tournament and had no chances of hosting.
Game 3 -Arkansas vs. Georgia
- Pitching matchup: Arkansas – Isaiah Campbell (2.50/90IP/97K/15BB) vs. Georgia – Cole Wilcox (4.17/49.2IP/58K/29BB)
- Thanks to a double and a couple of wild pitches, Arkansas was able to get on the board first with a run in the third.
- Georiga has had plenty of base runners on against Campbell but haven’t been able to score through three innings as they’ve left five runners on base.
- Campbell was lifted after 5 shutout innings at just 71 pitches. he allowed 2 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts.
- Wilcox exited after 6.1 innings of 1 run, 3 hit ball. He also issued 4 walks and struck out 5. The run he gave up was unearned.
- The Bulldogs tied the game up in the 7th with a single from Cam Shepherd and a double by Connor Tate.
- Georiga got a two-out, 2 RBI double in the 8th and ended up winning.
- FINAL SCORE: Georgia – 3 Arkansas – 1
- With the win — Georgia locks up a top 8 seed
- With the loss — Arkansas is still a lock for a top 8 seed.
Game 4 – Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt
- Pitching matchup: MSU – Ethan Small (1.84/83IP/139/22BB) vs. Vandy – Drake Fellows (4.34/85/100/35)
- Vandy was able to scratch across the game’s first run in the second inning thanks to a hit-by-pitch that came around to score on a two-out single by Julian Infante.
- Mississippi State threatened in the fifth after getting two on with one out and the top of the order coming up. But Fellows was able to strikeout Jake Mangum and Rowdey Jordan to get out of the jam.
The pitching duel between Ethan Small and Drake Fellows lived up to the hype. A combined 13 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, & 19 K between the two studs. @HailStateBB @VandyBoys #SECBaseball #SECTourney
— Jake Mastroianni (@ShortStopBall) May 24, 2019
- FINAL SCORE: Vanderbilt – 1 Miss. St. – 0
- With the win — Vanderbilt keeps hopes alive for top overall seed in NCAA Tournament
- With the loss — Doesn’t mean much for State as they’re a lock for a top eight seed.
