Just when it looked like South Carolina was going to coast to a big victory, the problem that keeps on giving continued on Saturday.
After leading 8-0 in the fourth inning, LSU came all the way back to take down the Gamecocks (37-23, 16-19 SEC), 12-11, in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
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Through three and a half innings, everything that could’ve gone right for South Carolina did. The offense was scoring early and often, and Roman Kimball, who hadn’t pitched in more than two weeks, was through three shutout frames.
As Kimball came back out for the fourth with an 8-0 lead, it looked like he would be able to go another inning or two. But as his pitch count built up, he got into a two-runner jam with two outs.
And for a moment, it looked like he was going to get out of it. But the defense behind the pitching had been a problem all week and continued to be on Saturday. On a Michael Braswell grounder to third, Talmadge LeCroy tried to field glove side instead of getting in front of the ball. As a result, the ball went over his glove and into left for LSU’s first run of the day.
Little did anyone know, but this play would start a snowball effect that led to the Tigers scoring five more runs with two outs to turn an 8-0 deficit to a two-run game.
It got to the point where it took two more pitchers to get the final out of the inning. But Eli Jones came in and got out of the jam thanks to a nice diving stop by Ethan Petry.
With the state of the pitching staff, eight runs weren’t going to be enough to win. So Cole Messina and Parker Noland each drove in a run to extend the lead to four in the sixth.
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Not wanting to overuse Jones, the Gamecocks turned back to their bullpen to start the fifth. Out of options, Sam Simpson, who hadn’t pitched in a game since March 26, came in to try and do what he could.
And for not pitching in almost two months, Simpson delivered a very quality outing. Outside of a Jared Jones solo homer in the sixth, the right-hander was solid. He tossed two innings of one-run ball while striking out two and walking two on 46 pitches.
After throwing 15 pitches on Friday, Matthew Becker came in to start the seventh. And right away, he made a throwing error on a bunt that would lead to a sacrifice fly. Later in the frame, former Gamecock Michael Braswell took him deep to make it a one-run game.
In the ninth, South Carolina turned to Garrett Gainey, who last pitched on Wednesday. But right away, the defensive mistakes returned to blow the lead it had held onto all game.
Lee Ellis, who had come in earlier to replace LeCroy, let a ball get by him on a grounder. Then, he fielded a bunt, looked to third with no one there and overthrew to first to allow the Tigers to tie the game at 10.
Gainey would get out of further trouble in the inning to send the game to extras. With two outs in the 10th, the Gamecocks had runners on the corners with two outs. And with a lefty on the mound, Blake Jackson tried to steal home but was out by a few steps.
But just when this game couldn’t get wild enough, the craziest part of the afternoon ensued. With no official announcement on the field, LSU was called for a balk and interference, which gave South Carolina an 11-10 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, Steven Milam hit a walk-off two-run homer to give LSU the win.
Up next: South Carolina will head home to find out where it will be heading for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The selection show is on Monday at noon on ESPN2.
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