South Carolina Softball: Gamecocks fall to Vols in SEC Tournament final
By Kevin Miller
The South Carolina softball team has been on a magical run through the SEC Tournament this week. The 10-seeded Gamecocks upset the Texas A&M Aggies, Georgia Bulldogs, and Auburn Tigers on their way to the SEC Tournament Championship Game on Saturday. Georgia and Auburn were both ranked in the top-16, and A&M was ranked in the top-25 just last week.
The Gamecocks’ tournament success set them up for a showdown with the #4 Tennessee Volunteers. The winner of the SEC Tournament receives an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament.
It is often said that most sports could be classified as a “game of inches.” That was true in the early goings on the Saturday championship game. Both teams scored once in the first inning in a similar fashion: after an extra-base hit, a single brought home a run. After that, the “game of inches” moniker revealed its validity.
The Gamecocks hit several balls right on the screws, but the well-struck balls were right at Tennessee defenders. In the third inning, the Volunteers loaded the bases after an error and Vol freshman Jamison Brockbrough made Carolina pay with a bloop hit down the left field line that was fair by less than two feet. Tennessee scored two runs on the play, bringing the score to 3-1.
There was no scoring through the end of the sixth, and the Gamecocks stepped to the plate in the seventh for their last opportunity to even the score. Aniyah Black deposited a double into right-center to lead off the inning, but the Gamecocks couldn’t put together any more offense against the Vols’ pitching staff that was excellent all afternoon.
All magical runs in sports end sometime, and South Carolina softball’s ended with a loss in the SEC Tournament final. However, the Gamecocks’ strong showing in the tourney virtually guarantees they will have another shot at starting another magical run in the NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina was viewed by many prognosticators as a tournament team even prior to the SEC Tournament, but the Gamecocks were left out of the projections by at least one outlet. Now, Beverly Smith’s squad are locks to make the field, and if their strong play over the last week is any indication, the Gamecocks could be in a position to make some more noise when the tournament begins next weekend.
The NCAA Selection Show will be broadcast on ESPN2 and 7:00 on Sunday, May 14th. Donnie Gobourne, Jordan Fabian, and Marissa Gonzalez were named to the SEC Tournament All-Tournament team for their strong play.