SEC Baseball Tournament Day 4

Game 13 #1 LSU vs. #7 Mississippi State (Elimination Game 5)

For the second time in three days the Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the top seeded LSU Tigers this time by a score of 4-3 in 10 innings. The Tigers started the scoring in this game in the top of the first inning when Ty Ross would single off the pitcher scoring two runs and giving LSU a 2-0 lead after one inning. The Tigers would add a third run in the top of the second inning when JaCoby Jones would score on a RBI ground out from Austin Nola. LSU would remain in control of the game until the eighth inning when the Bulldogs would start working on a comeback. A pair of walks to start the inning would prove costly for the Tigers as Mississippi State would finally get on the board when Hunter Renfroe would single up the middle scoring Adam Frazier. Adam Fraizer wasn’t done with his heroics as he would single in the bottom of the ninth scoring Matthew Britton who was pinch-running for Wes Rea who led off the inning with a double. A sacrifice fly from Luis Pollorena would tie the game at three sending the game into extra innings. The Bulldogs would complete their comeback in the tenth as Mitch Slaughter would double to with one out and score on a game winning single from Matthew Britton. The Bulldogs will play Kentucky on Saturday for a berth in the championship game on Sunday. LSU will go back to Baton Rouge to begin preparations for the NCAA tournament that will begin next weekend. 

Game 14 #2 South Carolina vs. #3 Florida (Elimination Game 6)

The Florida Gators would claim the final spot in the semi-finals with a convincing 7-2 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Gators starting pitcher Brian Johnson would go the distance allowing only five hits while striking out five. Mike Zunino led way on offense for Florida going 1-3 at the plate with that one hit being a two run home run down the left field line.  Chase Vergason was the lone bright spot for the Gamecocks going 2-3 with a pair of singles. The Gators will take a shot at payback against the Vanderbilt Commodores for the right to play for the SEC tournament championship. South Carolina will head back to Columbia to prepare for a shot at a third straight National Championship.

Semi-Final Games Preview

On Saturday for the first time the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament semi-finals bracket will go from double-elimination to single-elimination. Game one of the day will have tournament Cinderella, the Mississippi State playing the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs on Thursday by a score 5-1. Game two will also see a rematch as the Florida Gators will play the Vanderbilt Commodores. With a win on Saturday the Gators can advance to their second straight SEC tournament championship game, while the Commodores will be looking to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2009.