Diamond Extra: Crowe struggling
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ATHENS, Ga. - Since getting his then league-leading sixth win back on March 30 to no losses, Wil Crowe has been snakebit.
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He's winless in his last five starts in which his combined line is 22.2 IP, 30 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 12 BB and 14 K. He's 0-3 in that span and his ERA is 6.85. Compare that to his stats through his first seven starts: 48 IP, 34 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 28 K and a 1.31 ERA.
The difference is as clear as night and day.
"I think he's making mistakes over the middle of the plate," USC coach Chad Holbrook said. "His stuff is about the same. His velocity's not down or anything.
"You can't make mistakes in this league, especially when people are out there, and he's been making a few of them.
"He can't get any strikeouts unless he's over the heart of the plate. He's scuffling right now, but Wil will get it right."
The grand slam Crowe allowed in the third inning of Georgia's series-clinching 5-2 win Sunday at Foley Field was the first he's allowed as a Gamecock. Crowe said such pieces of information are the least of his concerns.
"I'm not really worried about all that stuff," said Crowe, who fell to 6-3 with Sunday's loss. "I'm just trying to come out here and get a win. I left one up and he got a hold of it.
"I've got to get out of however I'm doing right now. I just have to keep battling, keep throwing the way I did at the beginning of the year and figure out a way to get a win and help the team out."
Asked to pinpoint what's gone wrong, Crowe had as much trouble finding an answer as he's had on the mound.
"I don't know," Crowe said. "We're doing the same thing we were doing at the start, mixing pitches, matching up and trying to get people out. I just have to try a little harder next time.
SATURDAY SEC SCOREBOARD:
Texas A&M 4, No. 8 LSU 3
Georgia 5 , No. 9 USC 3
No. 20 Vanderbilt 3, Missouri 1
Late starts:
Arkansas at No. 11 Ole Miss
No. 5 Florida at No. 12 Alabama
Mississippi State at Auburn