South Carolina pulled off a surprising 10-5 upset victory over Alabama to open up the SEC Tournament as an 11 seed on Tuesday. Which they followed with a dramatic 6-5 win over Arkansas on Wednesday to advance to the winner’s bracket of the conference tourney as an underdog.
Gamecocks’ catcher Cole Messina was the star of the game and a major offensive catalyst for South Carolina, ending the matchup with three hits and five RBIs which included a two-run home run at the top of the ninth inning that broke the game’s tie and wound up representing the game-winner.
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After the game, Messina broke down his clutch at-bat to close out the game, pulling back the curtain on his matchup with Razorbacks pitcher Gabe Gaeckle. Who had not given up a home run all season until Wednesday.
“I just knew he had a good fastball and be ready for a good fastball,” Messina said. “So I sold out for the fastball, he ended up throwing a slider, and just took my best swing. Didn’t really think I was going to hit a slider, but it happened, and took a good swing and (the) ball got out of here.”
Messina stepped up to the plate in the ninth inning after already hitting an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fifth. Continuing to lead the Gamecocks in the batter’s box this season as the squad’s batting average, hits, and RBIs leader.
He was the only South Carolina player to earn All-SEC honors this season after being named to the Second Team. Earning all-conference recognition for a second straight season and becoming the first Gamecock to do so since Matt Price and Christian Walker did in 2011 and 2012. But when it comes to accomplishments, Messina’s recent game-winning homer may rank highest on the list.
“I mean it means the world, I guess a moment I’ll remember forever. I mean these are my guys, people I would kill somebody over. Bad way to put it,” Messina said getting a laugh out of the media and head coach Mark Kingston beside him.
“Like take a bullet for, I love them,” Messina clarified. “Love them to death so it meant the world to me and keep building.”
Messina and the Gamecocks will look to keep their winning ways up in the double-elimination round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. Taking on No. 11 seed LSU at 5:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
The post Cole Messina describes the emotions of his ninth inning home run vs. Arkansas appeared first on On3.