SEC Baseball Tournament: South Carolina vs. Mississippi State preview
By Rixon Lane
If the Gamecocks want to shake their Hoover blues, they’ll have to beat one of their biggest tournament tormentors.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina faces Mississippi State tonight in the second round of the SEC tournament. The Gamecocks have struggled mightily against the Bulldogs in Hoover, beating them just once in their last eight tries.
While the Gamecocks are hoping to reverse their fortunes in Hoover, Mississippi State wants its luck in the SEC tournament to continue. The Bulldogs advanced to the tournament semifinals last year and won the title in 2012. South Carolina’s last tournament title came in 2004.
This marks the second consecutive season that the Gamecocks have opened tournament play against Mississippi State. South Carolina is hoping to win its opening game of the SEC tournament for the first time since 2011, when the Gamecocks defeated Auburn. In their opening game in Hoover last season, the Gamecocks lost to Mississippi State 5-3. Just like last season, the Bulldogs are coming off an extra-inning victory. In 2012, Mississippi State outlasted Missouri in a 17-inning contest in single-elimination play. On Tuesday night, the Bulldogs defeated Georgia in 10 innings.
South Carolina will start junior left-hander Jordan Montgomery against the Bulldogs. Montgomery boasts a 7-4 record with a 3.26 ERA in 88.1 innings of work. He has struck out 85 batters and walked 25 this season. The junior has two career starts in Hoover, allowing one earned run in 12.2 innings. He has given up seven hits, walked four and struck out 13 in the SEC tournament.
The Bulldogs will counter with junior right-hander Trevor Fitts, whose two career appearances at the SEC tournament came last season. In one start and one relief appearance, Fitts worked 4.2 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out three.
The Gamecocks and Bulldogs are schedule to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Florida/Kentucky game, which starts at 5:30 p.m. ET.
What: #4 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. #5 Mississippi State Bulldogs
When: May 21st, 2014, 9 p.m. ET (30 minutes after Florida/Kentucky game)
Where: Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, AL
TV info: Game will air on CSS. Mike Morgan and Joe Beckwith will be in the booth.
Winner plays: Winner of Florida/Kentucky tomorrow at approximately 9 p.m. ET
Loser plays: Loser of Florida/Kentucky tomorrow at approximately 2 p.m. ET