Primer: Gamecocks put postseason on the line in elimination game
South Carolina and Kentucky face off in an elimination game Friday in the SEC Tournament with a trip to the semifinals and a matchup with LSU on the line.
Here are a few updates on things to keep an eye on before today's first pitch at 4 p.m. EST.
Postseason potential
South Carolina knew its resume wasn’t strong enough entering the SEC Tournament, but with a few wins the Gamecocks could play their way into the mix.
They’re doing just that, and with a win Friday against Kentucky, head coach Chad Holbrook thinks they sneak further into the conversation.
“Maybe across the nation all the favorites will win the conference tournaments and they’ll be no surprises and we’ll slide in there,” he said. “Who knows? I know this, no matter what happens, I don’t think anybody wants us in their regional the way we’re playing right now and swinging the bat.”
The Gamecocks are No. 31 in the RPI heading into Friday’s game against Kentucky and with a few bubble teams lose, they could find a way to sneak into another team’s regional. Holbrook said he’s not watching the conference tournaments and is only focused on what he can control.
“You can’t worry about things you can’t control. We’re just going to worry about my team and play as good as we can play and see what happens,” he said. “If anyone deserves a little good fortune with what happens across the country it’d be us with all we faced. We’ll worry about ourselves and our game tomorrow and play good ball."
Also see: Full, in-depth updates on 2017 baseball class
All hands on deck
Wil Crowe did what he had to do against Missouri Thursday, going deep into the game and saving the Gamecocks’ stretched bullpen. He pitched six innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He struck out nine batters.
“I knew that we had a few guys that threw some pitches earlier in the week and I needed to go out and go six, seven innings,” he said. “I pitched to contact and let my defense work.”
Now, South Carolina will turn to Adam Hill for another quality start and turn it over to a bullpen late.
Holbrook said Josh Reagan will be available out of the bullpen with Colie Bowers and Reed Scott potentially in the mix as well. He said availability is a “day-to-day thing” that hinges heavily on how the pitchers feel the day of.
Right now, it’d likely be Reagan first out of the bullpen after Hill exits.
“Who knows?” Holbrook said. “Adam may have seven or eight in him tomorrow and maybe we can just throw Adam and Josh and stay in the game and maybe a ball will fall in for us.”
Also see: Team scoop, update on Jaycee Horn
Familiarity breeds knowledge
South Carolina is no stranger to Kentucky baseball this season. The two teams have played four times before facing off for a fifth, and likely final, time Friday in an elimination game of the SEC Tournament.
The Gamecocks are 1-3 against the Wildcats so far this season, including a 7-2 loss Tuesday in Hoover. Fridays’ game has implications for both teams with South Carolina fighting for a postseason berth and Kentucky trying to play its way into national seeding.
“Obviously a really good team, a really good coaching staff; two teams that are fighting for different things right now,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said. “Obviously they played great today, putting up double-digit runs. We’ll have our hands full.”
Adam Hill will start Friday opposite Kentucky’s Jordan Lewis (6-3, 3.50 ERA). Lewis pitched 4.1 innings in Columbia earlier this year and gave up four earned runs and struck out four.
“They have a different team from when we played them in the regular season,” Wildcat infielder Connor Heady said. “We already played them so far in the tournament and we like our chances. We like our guy on the mound. We’ll get ready to go after them tomorrow.”
Another note: Jacob Olson is still battling strep throat. Holbrook said he has no energy and isn't feeling well. If it persists, Olson may have to undergo more tests to rule out mono. He missed Thursday's game and didn't start against Vanderbilt Tuesday.