Game 5: #6 Florida 3, #7 Alabama 2
HOOVER, Ala. (AP) -- Bryan Augenstein pitched a complete-game eight-hitter in Florida's 3-2 victory over Alabama Thursday, knocking the Crimson Tide out of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Florida (29-29) advances to play either Arkansas or South Carolina. Alabama (31-26) is eliminated from the double-elimination tournament after managing only two runs and 10 hits in its two games.
Augenstein (8-5) had eight strikeouts and no walks and closed the game by striking out the final two batters. He retired the Tide in order in the first, third, fifth and eighth innings, as Florida built a 3-1 lead.
Alabama closed to 3-2 when Alex Avila led off the ninth with a home run to deep center field. Kent Matthes, who went 3-for-4 in the game, followed with a single. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a wild pitch.
But Florida coach Pat McMahon kept Augenstein in the game, and he responded by getting both Del Howell and Brandon May to strike out swinging.
Cole Figueroa went 2-for-3, the only Gator with multiple hits.
The Gators scored one run in each of the first three innings off Alabama starter Will Stroup (3-1). Austin Pride hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield in the first inning, Hampton Tignor drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field in the second, and Brian Leclerc pushed home a runner on a fielders choice in the third.
Alabama scored its first run in the second inning when Howell brought Matthes home on a fielders choice.
Florida first baseman Matt LaPorta, the SEC player of the year, went 0-for-2 with two walks. LaPorta remains hitless in the tournament, going a combined 0-for-6 with four walks in two games.
Florida Quotes
Head Coach Pat McMahon
Thoughts on the game... "I'm very proud of the ball club and their effort today. They did a wonderful job. It was an outstanding collegiate baseball game."
On the team's recovery from yesterday's loss... "Our guys believe in each other and played with great heart the entire year. They strive for consistency and to be the best ballclub that they can be. It was a very difficult, emotional loss yesterday, but Brian Augenstein came out and said he wanted the ball."
Bryan Augenstein, Starting Pitcher
On his 9th-inning performance... "I was a little tired but in close games you have to give it all you've got. You never know what's going to happen."
Alabama Quotes
Head Coach Jim Wells
Opening statements... "First thoughts are that we only scored two runs over two games. Playing like that makes it hard to win. We just needed to settle down. [Austin] Hyatt gave us a chance before Florida opened the game all up. There was not a lot of offense over the two-day period and it is just frustrating."
Alex Avila, Third Baseman
On 9th-inning homerun... "My mindset was to get on base, get something going to give us a chance. We could not get anything off of [Bryan] Augenstein all day. He just finally gave me a chance and I took it."
On Alabama's offensive performance ... "The way [Nick] Schmidt [Arkansas] and Augenstein shut us down, we just tip our hats to them. But at the same time we weren't hitting; we needed our bats to give us a chance."
Kent Matthes, Right Fielder
On the game ... "We weren't able to get on base very much. They were just busting us. We couldn't really figure them out [Schmidt/Augenstein]."
Game Notes
Florida Notes
Alabama Notes
Game 6: #1 Vanderbilt 3, #4 Mississippi State 2
HOOVER, Ala. (AP) -- Lefthander David Price was perfect for six innings and received a big assist from centerfielder David Macias that helped Vanderbilt hold on for a 3-2 victory over Mississippi State Thursday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Vanderbilt (47-11) advanced to play either Tennessee or Mississippi at 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday, while Mississippi State (33-20) was knocked out of the double-elimination tournament.
Price (11-0), the unanimous selection as SEC pitcher of the year, set down the Bulldogs in order in each of the first six innings, as the top-ranked Commodores built a seemingly comfortable 3-0 lead.
That suddenly changed in the seventh. Jeffrey Rea became the Bulldogs' first baserunner with a single to left field. That was quickly followed by RBI doubles to right field from both Joseph McCaskill and Mitch Moreland, making the score 3-2.
It appeared Mississippi State was about to tie the game when Brandon Turner laced a hit to center field. But Marcias rifled a one-hopper that beat Moreland to the plate for the second out of the inning.
Price then settled down and retired seven of the final eight batters for a complete-game five-hitter. He finished with 11 strikeouts and no walks.
The Commodores took a 3-0 lead in the third inning off losing pitcher Chad Crosswhite (7-4), scoring on four hits, a walk and an error. Ryan Flaherty and Shea Robin each had RBI singles in the inning. Flaherty now has a 26-game hitting streak, one shy of the Vanderbilt single-season record.
Vanderbilt Quotes
Head Coach Tim Corbin
Thoughts on the game... "This was one very well pitched game by David Price. When you think you've seen a good game he's pitched he throws another one at you. It was a very hard lineup to get through, particularly three times. But it was his game from start to finish."
David Price, Starting Pitcher
On teammates in the bullpen during the seventh inning... "I can throw a great game and get taken out in the 9th and it ruins my whole day. I didn't want that to happen."
On facing Mississippi State for the first time this season... "There are scouting reports around the league, so even if they haven't faced you they think they know what you are going to do. But there still is an advantage to not having faced them this year."
Ryan Flaherty, Shortstop
On Vanderbilt's defense... "Sometimes the bats aren't there everyday. That's why defense and pitching wins in the long run. We are going to stick to our approach and keep at it. We'll come through that way."
David Macias, Centerfield
On throwing out a runner at homeplate... "I was anticipating a hit up the middle just in case. I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time."
Mississippi State Quotes
Head Coach Ron Polk
Opening Comments... "I am very proud. We battled hard out there. [David] Price is an ace. We have battled in so many games. [Will] Kline and Price were a hard draw in your first two games. This league is a pitching league. Every team has a good pitcher and we got matched up with both two in very close ballgames. I thought we had a chance. You have got to be aggressive on Price and go when you get a chance."
On the upcoming NCAA Regionals... "Looks like we will go some place else, unless something earth-shaking happens. But you never know. We put in a pretty good bid. Wherever we go we will probably be a two or three seed though."
Chad Crosswhite, Starting Pitcher
On facing Price... "I was kinda nervous facing [David] Price. I knew what I had to do. I knew that my batters would be okay behind me. I just have to tip my hat to Price. There is always pressure when facing a team like Vanderbilt. You just have to try and block it out and pitch. I thought our guys played real hard and I am very proud."
Jeffrey Rea, Right Field
On the game... "[David] Price was definitely on his "A" game. He did a good job of keeping us off balance. Chad [Crosswhite] kept us in though. We were in the whole game. You are always dissappointed when you go two-and-out. But we are still in a regional which is a plus. As long as we get some momentum, it doesn't matter where we are at whether it be Florida State or home."
Mitch Moreland, First Base
On being thrown out at home... "I thought it was going to be a close play as soon as I rounding the base. I knew Coach [Polk] was going to send me. I was watching Brian [LaNinfa] to see the sign as I was running."
Vanderbilt Notes
Mississippi State Notes
Game 7: #2 Arkansas 6, #3 South Carolina 0
HOOVER, Ala. (AP) -- Jess Todd struck out 17 batters, including the first nine he faced, and Logan Forsythe went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer as Arkansas cruised past South Carolina 6-0 Thursday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Todd (9-2) broke both the SEC tournament record (15) and Arkansas team record (16) for strikeouts in a game. He fell well short of the regular-season SEC record of 24 strikeouts, set by LSU's Butch Mixon in 1959.
Fourteen of the Gamecocks' first 15 outs were by strikeout. Four South Carolina batters struck out twice in the game and two players fanned three times.
It was the second consecutive shutout for Arkansas (40-18), which beat Alabama 6-0 Wednesday. The Razorbacks now have a bye Friday and will not play again until Saturday morning.
South Carolina (41-17) will face Florida in an elimination game Friday.
The Arkansas offense gave Todd all the help he would need in the first inning, scoring two runs on RBI singles by Forsythe and Danny Hamblin.
The Razorbacks made it 5-0 in the third when Forsythe homered to left field off South Carolina starter Arik Hempy (5-3).
Casey Coon went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored two runs for the Razorbacks.
Travis Jones managed two of the three hits for South Carolina, which had only two batters reach second base in the game.
Arkansas Quotes
Head Coach Dave Van Horn
Thoughts on the game... "This was the same game we played yesterday. We had tremendous starting pitching. We had a couple of big hits. We felt good. We had Jess rolling through another great game, probably the sixth or seventh in a row. I'm proud of our team for coming out and playing hard."
On earning a day off from competition... "It's a good feeling to be 2-0. It will be a day off competition, but not a day off. We'll get a light workout in and get the team up early. This is the first time since I've been here we've gone 2-0 in the tournament. "
Jess Todd, Starting Pitcher
On his performance... "Today was the first day all year I had command of all three of my pitches. I got ahead on the count and it really helped me out deep in the game."
Brian Walker, Catcher
On catching during the game... "[Todd's strikeouts] made the game a lot less stressful. We were getting ahead of the hitters early. I feel fortunate to catch for guys on this staff. It was a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun."
Logan Forsythe, Third Base
On his homerun... "We had runners on and I worked my count up to two strikes. As soon as I hit I knew it was gone."
South Carolina Quotes
Head Coach Ray Tanner
Opening comments... "He [Jess Todd] just completely overmatched us. Scouting reports showed he was really special. So we were expecting double-digit strikeouts. He was just too good for us."
On Arkansas Pitcher Jess Todd... "He [Todd] was really good. I was a little disappointed in our guys to a point, but then he was really good. He overmatched us and completely dominated us. When you think of Arkansas you think of Nick Schmidt, but Jess Todd is equally as good."
James Darnell, Third Base
On Arkansas Pitcher Jess Todd... "He [Todd] had a great slider. He was able to locate his pitches well. I just have to tip my cap off to him. He was making us chase. His fastball had movement and he was really working his ball."
Arik Hempy, Starting Pitcher
On his performance today... "I did not give us a chance to win. I had an okay performance."
Arkansas Notes
South Carolina Notes
Game 8: #5 Ole Miss 6, #8 Tennessee 3
HOOVER, Ala. (AP) -- Mississippi scored five runs in the first inning and then held on for a 6-3 victory over Tennessee on Thursday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Ole Miss sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored three times before the Vols recorded their initial out. Tennessee starter Craig Cobb (8-6) was replaced by Lance McClain after facing only seven batters.
The Rebels (37-21) increased their lead to 6-0 with a run in the fourth, before Tennessee (34-24) attempted to rally.
The Vols cut the lead in half in the sixth when Tony Delmonico crushed a towering three-run homer over the left-field fence, making the score 6-3. It was Delmonicos team-leading ninth home run of the season.
Tennessee had another chance in the seventh, loading the bases against Ole Miss starter Lance Lynn (7-4). But Lynn worked his way out of the jam by getting Yan Gomes to fly out to deep center field to end the inning.
Lynn struck out 10 and allowed only six hits in seven innings. Cody Satterwhite came in to pitch two scoreless innings and pick up the save.
Justin Henry went 2-for-5 and was one of six different Ole Miss players with an RBI.
The Rebels have won their first two games in the tournament and will receive a bye Friday before playing again Saturday. Tennessee will take on Vanderbilt at 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday in an elimination game.
Ole Miss Quotes
Head Coach Mike Bianco
Thoughts on the game... "The key to the game was jumping out to an early lead. To get ahead against one of the best pitchers in the SEC is a good feeling. We did a really good job against Cobb."
Zack Cozart, Shortstop
On the team's defense... "We got off to a great start. Lance was pretty dominant tonight. The day off tomorrow will be good for several reasons. But we'll be throwing our number three guy and the other team will be on number four."
Lance Lynn, Starting Pitcher
On tonight's performance... "I had a fastball on the inside/outside corner, but the curve helped me later in the game. I struggled a little during the second and third inning so it was good to have a those five runs."
Cody Overbeck, Third Base
On the team rebounding from a regular season Tennessee loss... "It was a rough outing when we went to Tennessee so it felt good to come back and win tonight. Our last outing against them helped me stay focused during this one."
Tennessee Quotes
Head Coach Rod Delmonico
On the game... "We made an error and couldn't make a play or two. They had a good pitcher [Lance Lynn] and we gave up too many runs early."
On the offense... "I thought Yan [Gomes] hit the ball out of here. In most places that ball would have be out of here. We had some pretty good swings, but just could not get many runs off them."
On Lance McClain's performance... "He gave up six hits over 8-2/3 innings while giving up only one run. I thought he pitched tremendously well."
Tony Delmonico, Second Baseman
On the game... "When you take pitchers like them you can't make mistakes. We battled back and kept it close. Those pitchers can't get any better than that. We just need to come out tomorrow and not make those same mistakes."
On playing Vanderbilt again... "They are going to be a new ballclub. They are a in-state rival that will make it hard. We are going to need to come out and hit the ball better to win."
Ole Miss Notes
Tennessee Notes