For the College Baseball fans

[E.T.G.]

Vandy +120 / So Carolina -140

First let me start by saying this series will determine the #1 team in the country, both of these teams have been ranked top 3 for the majority of the yr so far and currently are #1 & #3 depending where you look. I will be at this game tomorrow, should be amazing. Now onto the game, SC bats have been hot, they are throwing Honeycutt (6-0, 1.42 ERA) who is undefeated in his career (14wins) and they are at home where they are very tough to beat. Vandy is a great team as well and also sports maybe thee best pitcher in College right now, David Price (5-0, 2.79 ERA)..Both of these pitchers are fun to watch because of their different styles. Honeycutt does not make many mistakes with location and lives on the corners. His fast ball is not over powering but enough to blow by you. He keeps you off balance and has an array of off speed pitches that he throws for strikes. Last time I posted the play vs. Miss St he gave up 2 runs in the first on a curve ball that stayed up in the zone. Other than that he dominated the SEC's #1 offensive team and SC threw up 3 touchdowns. This game will certainly not be the same way..David Price is a lefty power pitcher and USC struggled a little bit in the early innings w/ Miss St because that pitcher came to throw. He was hitting 93-94 and blowing by the top of the lineup. Eventually they adjusted and this is also a primary righty lineup except for the big bat from Justin Smoak.. I thought the line would actually be a little lower like maybe -130 but Vandy dropped 2 games last week to Arky, another very good team..

Stats:

Honeycutt: (6-0, 1.42 ERA) 22 hits and fanned 43 in 38 innings this season.

Price: (5-0, 2.79 ERA) has allowed just 35 hits and has 79 strikeouts in 51.2 innings this season.

Important stats:

• If you like situations, USC is 6-0 on friday night.
• If you like revenge, Vandy won 3/4 last yr
• USC is 82.7% at home.
• USC has had 10 more hits in last 7games
• USC averages 5 walks a game
• For those who have never seen USC, they play small ball and hit the long ball. Coach Tanner uses the bunt in situations that I havent seen many use, especially with the power in the lineup.
• Neither one of these teams will beat themselves, they are too good.

I am obviously a little more familar w/ SC than Vandy. This will be a great series and here is how I think the game will go.

Price is an overpowering pitcher with the ball in the upper 90's but the USC batters are good enough to handle this imo. They are very, and I mean this in the most non homerish way, very good.

USC's STATISTICAL LEADERS:
Batting Average: Trent Kline (.392)
At-Bats: Justin Smoak (106)
Runs: Justin Smoak (28)
Hits: Trent Kline (38)
Doubles: Trent Kline (8)
Triples: Travis Jones (2)
Home Runs: Justin Smoak (9)
Runs Batted In: Justin Smoak (36)
Total Bases: Justin Smoak (71)
Slugging Pct: Justin Smoak (.670)
Walks: James Darnell (23)
Stolen Bases: Travis Jones (6)

Darnell - Kline - Smoak are 3 very tough outs.

There is no way USC sweeps this series, I think they could drop 2morrow nights game actually but I am not sure Honeycutt loses here. Understandably it took him an inning to locate his stuff in the game last week but at home I think he moves to 15-0 in his career.

USC 3 - Vandy 1

I am going to say that the pitching dominates this game, I think it would be crazy to say either one of these pitchers gets lit up but I wouldn't rule this out if either one can't hit their locations of course.

Gamecocks -$140 to win $100

:cheers:

 

[E.T.G.]

Down to -120..Looks like I jumped the gun, thought -140 was a little high..

Still like the gamecocks to win this game, no change in that at all

 

[E.T.G.]

yea, i umm didn't make the game...hungover

Here is what we got so far..

7:10 PM - We're underway at The Sarge. Nice top of the first for Honeycutt. Three up, three down. He caught Pedro Alvarez looking at strike three. Very impressive. Good start for the Gamecocks. Now we'll see what they can do against David Price.

7:18 PM - Consecutive singles by Darnell and Kline. Base hit to center by Smoak. RBI. Darnell scores. Vandy CF bobbles the ball. Kline to third. E8. It's 1-0 USC.

7:23 PM - Strikeouts of Grinestaff and Disher end the inning. 2 runners left stranded. It's 1-0 USC after 1 Inn. USC is 17-2 this season when it scores first.

 

[E.T.G.]

7:42 PM - The Vandy 2B can't handle Lail's bloop single into no man's land behind 1st base. Crisp scores. It's 2-0 USC. Getting a lead is huge for USC. There's the third out by Darnell. We go to the third with USC ahead, 2-0

USC has 5 hits off price already.. Wish I didn't wake up around 5:30

 

[E.T.G.]

Going to go down to the wire...

7:58 PM - Leadoff single by Alvarez off the RF wall. Nice play by Lail to hold him to a single. There's another single by Vandy. Runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the top of the 4th.

8:03 PM - Big strikeout by HH. Strike three was right down the middle. One out, two runners on. UNBELIEVABLE DIVING CATCH BY ANDREW CRISP IN CENTERFIELD. SAVED AT LEAST ONE RUN, IF NOT TWO. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAY THIS YEAR!

8:06 pm - But Crisp just botched fielding a single into CF. He lets the ball get past him. Two runs score. It's 2-2. There's a fly to center. Crisp was busy this inning. It's 2-2 as we go to the bottom of the 4th.

 

[E.T.G.]

2-2 top of the 7th

Price and Honeycutt have been as good as advertised..

Price w/ 8k...Honeycutt w/ 7k... each with 1 walk. each w/ 85pitches. each have given up 2 runs.

USC had a chance w/ runners in the 5th but Price caught a line drive hit right back at him and turned a double play..

3 of last 4 innings, Vandy has gotten the leadoff hitter on

 

[E.T.G.]

its 2nd and 3rd w/ 1 out for Vandy in the top of the 7th. Sac bunt moved the runners over.

Honeycutt has just come out of the game and the Gamecocks head to the bullpen:

HH went 6.1 IP and allowed six hits, 3run 2er, 92 pitches, 61 strikes, 7k, 1bb


Vandy could get 1 of the best hitters in America up this inning w/ possible runners on base..

Pedro Alvarez

 

[E.T.G.]

Suicide squeeze runner scores, no one covering first...man from second got caught in a run down between third and home and is out.. now 2 outs in the top of the 7th w/ runner on first..

Bad base running by Vandy but they take the lead 3-2 here in the 7th.

Stike 3, gamecocks out of the 7th..

Vandy leads 3-2 going into the bottom of the 7th

 

[E.T.G.]

Vandy CF dropped the deep fly ball... Travis Jones advances all the way to 3rd.... This is a 3 base error. Incredible effort from Travis Jones to keep running on the deep fly..

USC w/ a man on 3rd w/ 1out in the bottom of the 7th...

 

[E.T.G.]

Fly ball throw home, play at the plate and he is out!!!

WOW

Big way to get out of the inning for Vandy

 

[E.T.G.]

1-2-3 inning for Carolina topped off by a diving catch in the OF which could have been an extra base hit if Coach Tanner doesn't make a defensive substitution.

USC comes into the bottom of the 8th w/ 6outs left in the game.

David Price is still pitching for Vandy; he has given up 2runs, 9k, 7innings, 1walk.

He will be facing the top of the order this inning.

 

[E.T.G.]

The announcer is describing David Price's stuff as "illegal"... The big lefty at 6'6 is killing Carolina with his slider and topping off around 96 on his fastball. He is living up to the hype

Leadoff batter draws a walk. The second walk of the game for David Price. Darnell is up who is 2-3 on the day.

Now is the time to strike for Carolina

Would be interesting if Tanner has Darnell bunt here since he has been the hottest USC bat today..He does lead the team with 6 sac bunts.

Darnell square and pops it foul..wow lucky..kind of surprised but I guess you have to here..

Swinging now and misses... 0-2....Strike 3 called.. That is the 10th K for David Price..

1-Out man on first #3 batter up Trent Kline

Lined shot by Kline.. Runner advances to 3rd.

1 down man on first and 3rd w/ the big bat from Justin Smoak

 

[E.T.G.]

Power vs. Power..

Smoak was named MVP of the Cape Cod league this past summer. He is a big soph 1b..

Lined shot to RF... Kline to 2nd ...

All tied up at 3

 

[E.T.G.]

Hell of game to listen to, cant imagine what it is like there.

Over 6100 fans in Columbia for the game tonight, crowd is pretty loud.

Price now w/ 110 pitches..

Batter now is the defensive substitution, a .269 hitter..

Pick off throw to 2nd is wild into the OF, runner tries to goto 3rd but heads back to 2nd, wise decision as he would have been gunned out.

Both Pitchers came into this game undefeated tonight. Honeycutt will remain 14-0 lifetime as the game is now tied... Price is still in the game to earn a decision either way..

Announcer says the OF is pretty shallow on the batter right now..

2-2, men on 1st and 2nd w/ 1 out..

Ground ball out moves the runner over to 3rd.

Now 2outs runners on the corners tied 3-3 bottom of the 8th.

Price is now out of the game as well..

Bullpen pitcher here for Vandy..

 

[E.T.G.]

New pitcher for Vandy

Casey Weathers: 16.1 innings, 5hits, 3er, 25k, 5k..

Batters are .098 vs him tops off at 97..

WOW

 

[E.T.G.]

First pitch is a slider in the dirt and the batter is totally fooled.

Another breaking ball. 2-2

Swing and a drive...If its fair its gone...

FOUUUUUUUUULLLL

Announcer got me all hyped up!

Got him swinging. Vandy out of the innings.. Tied game 3-3 heading into the top of the 9th..

Both Honeycutt's and Price's records will remain in tack tonight as they leave the game to their respective bullpens. Both pitchers deserve to win this game..

Everything I have read about Price indicates he could be thee top pick in the draft and after listening today it sounds like whoever lands him is getting a lanky 6'6 lefty with a nasty slider and a fastball that hits 96-97.
Think Randy Johnson? Of course those are huge shoes but just in terms of pitching style that is who he reminds me of.

 

[E.T.G.]

Leadoff double for Vandy..

Ground ball back to the pitcher, holds the runner to second.. 1out man on 2nd top of 9, tied 3-3..

Both teams with 8 hits in this game.. Pretty much a dead even matchup and an exciting game.

Pitch ripped on the ground towards first and Smoak makes the play at first to save what would have been a run. Runner advances to 3rd.

Man on 3rd, 2 outs, top of 9

The announcer needs to shutout about wild pitches.. This guy doesnt need anyone to jinx him, he's done it twice this yr already with men on 3rd..

Pitch popped up, Darnell can't get to it as it lands foul in the 1st row.

on the ground to short. Gamecocks out of the inning after a leadoff double..

Bottom of the 9th w/ Gamecocks up to bat.. Should be 7-8-9

 

[E.T.G.]

Vandy pitcher Weathers has just been dominant this yr and it will be tough to get a run here..

Fastball is blown by the hitter..2-2

Vandy really has some live arms on that staff.

Leadoff hitter pops up..1 down

This game has had 3 pitchers all throwing over 95 tonight.. I love power pitchers like that.

Ball 4, man on 1st - 1out.. Good wheels on first.

Runner goes, Travis Jones is safe.. Sum Boo's... Vandy coach runs out. Throw beats the runner there but the tag was missed. Its tough when you can't see the play to comment. Throw clearly beat the runner but apparently the tag was missed..

Man on 2nd, 1 out..

Bunt?

Nope, batter is swinging.. Pitch hit to the 2nd baseman on a wierd kind of hit that bounced late.. Runner stays at second..

2 -out man on 2nd..

Pickoff throw to 2nd man is out..

Inning over... Extra innings

 

[E.T.G.]

Top of the order coming up for Vandy here..

This is the 2nd inning for the SC pitcher Pyzler.. He is the 3rd pitcher tonight hitting over 95..

This is the 3rd straight friday night that Vandy has played an SEC extra inning game..

0-2 count and Pyzler hits the 9th batter in the order...

Bunt is poped up..

1 out man on 1st

Pedro Alvarez is up.. Arguably one of the best Hitters in America..

He has 1 hit, a ball that was ripped off the right field wall for a single. The ball was hit so hard there was no chance to advance. He has 3k's tonight, law of averages say he is due for a hit, I hope not..

1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, ball 4.. That is not the worst thing in the world. He has 10 hrs this yr.

Runners on 1st and 2nd w/ 1 out.

Tanner makes the bullpen call.

 

[E.T.G.]

Strike out for the Gamecocks..

2-out runners on 1st and 2nd..

Fly ball deep center is caught..

Gamecocks come to bat in the bottom of the 10th..

All tied up at 3

 

[E.T.G.]

Vandy +120 / So Carolina -140
Gamecocks -$140 to win $100

:cheers:

Weathers is still in for Vandy, not sure he has pitched this long in relief this yr. My guess is that he will be unavailable tomorrow.

Top of the Gamecock order here..

Again this is the time for the Gamecocks. They got a run in the 8th to tie it up when the top of the order came up.

2-2 - Ball is hit into center.. Man on first

Now up is 3B Darnell. Darnell shows bunt here. He is a very good hitter though. Darnell swings, ball gets by the catcher, passed ball.

Runner advances to second, no one out...

0-2 on a fastball....Strike 3..

Man on 2nd and 1out.. Now up is Trent Kline, #3 batter in the order. Weathers works the count to 0-2.. Stike 3....Weathers is really battling here after allowing the leadoff hitter to first and than the passed ball..

Now up is Smoak who tied the game, he is 2-4 tonight. Very good bat here..

They intentionally walk Smoak to get to Shane Hurst. I can't blame them. Hurst is a defensive substitution, this is his 2nd at bat.

1st & 2nd w/ 2out..

0-1, fastball is blown by him. 1-1.. The OF is very shallow. 1-2 on another fastball. Stike 3 on another fastball.

SC squanders an opportunity here. Not sure how many more of those they will get. Had man on 2nd w/ no outs.

Top of the 11th, what a game.

 

[E.T.G.]

I picked a hell of a game to bet on. I can't complain about a loss here this is just an excellent game between two great teams. Having money on it just makes it more fun to listen to.

This game is pretty much a draw at this point.

Line out..1down..

Infield single for Vandy.. Man on 1st, 1down.

These teams will meet up again somewhere down the road in the post season.

2-2 count, Strike 3.

Man on 1st, 2down. 2-2 count.. ground ball out.. 3 down..

Bottom of the 11th and the Gamecocks come to bat, tied 3-3..

Interesting how this game can play out for tomorrows game. Certainly Vandy's biggest asset in the bullpen will not be available tomorrow. SC has thrown 4 guys tonight and their bullpen has gotten a decent amount of work as well. Vandy might be changing their Starting pitcher tomorrow. The preview won't be out till tomorrow..A win for either team I think could be a momentum builder into tomorrow's day game. Especially an intense and back and forth game like this that no one really deserves to lose. The winner feels like they knocked off the other team at their best because this is really what you got in this game. Both teams giving their best effort. I also expect the juice to be lower tomorrow as well for both teams. Will look into this game pretty hard..

1-2 pitch, Strike 3. Thats the 5th strikeout for Casey Weathers who came in to pitch during the 8th.

1st pitch base hit single. Man on first w/ 1out.

Travis Jones is up who has had an interesting game. 0-1...Ball hit and batter is out at first...man on 2nd w/ 2outs .

1-0, 1-1, 1-2, Strike 3. Fastball still blowing by. Thats the 16K for Vandy tonight and the 6 for Weathers.

Weathers and Price is a deadly combination of pitchers. Vandy really is stacked with those two on the mound.

Top of the 12th..

 

[E.T.G.]

Ball hit up the middle to 2nd.. Runner is safe at first. Brings out the Boos. Tanner runs out to argue.

Man on 1st, no one out.

Bunt, batter is out at first.

Man on 2nd, 1 out and there is Pedro Alvarez to bat..

Gamecocks will intentional walk Alvarez like Vandy did to Smoak.. Smart move, don't let this guy beat you..Alvarez leads them in every hitting category.

1st and 2nd, 1 out.

0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, Line shot to CF.. Ball grabbed. 2-out

Each team has 10 hits at this point in the game and 3 runs. Both starters were outstanding. The Bullpens have been great. Carolina is warming up a man right now.

Carolina to the bull pen to bring in their 5th pitcher.

1st and 2nd, 2out..

1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, base hit..runner scores..That is the 2nd extra base hit of this game out of 21 combined hits.

That breaks a 5inning scoreless streak. Pinch hitter gets the rbi there..

1st and 3rd, 2down.

1-0, 1-1, ball hit.. 3rd out of the inning...

Bottom of the 12th.. Gamecocks will have the top of the order coming to bat again down 4-3.

 

[E.T.G.]

The game will prob decided this inning here..

Bottom of the 12th..

Vandy leads 4-3..

Gamecocks will bring the top of the order to bat.

Weathers is still pitching. He has thrown 16.1 innings this yr and this will be his 4th innings tonight.

Weathers hits the 1st batter.

Man on first. This is the 3rd time in the last 4 innings thats Carolina has had the leadoff batter on base and fail to score.

Darnell has struken out the last 2 times looking vs. Weathers..

Darnell pops up the bunt again! It is out of range..That is the 2nd time tonight he avoids a mishap.

Darnell takes strike 2. Down 0-2 in the count again...1-2, strike 3. That is the 17th strike out for Vandy and the 7th for Weathers.

Trent Kline is up, he is 2-5 on the night.

Hit and run, ball foul. 0-1, ball hit foul, 0-2. Weathers has been ahead of the count all night. 1-2, ball hit foul again.. Weathers is in the mid 50's of the pitch count. Again this is his longest outing this season. Line shot to 3b, double play.. Game over..

Vandy wins

Cant say much here, excellent game. :shake: