The first two were dramatic. The last one was a beatdown. In the end, the Gamecocks captured their third straight SEC sweep by winning three against Alabama at Carolina Stadium.
The games really were strikingly different. Game one was a pitchers' duel that was ended in the eighth inning Thursday night by a rain delay; Adam Matthews would blast the first pitch of the resumed game Friday afternoon for what would be a game-winning HR, Carolina winning 1-0. The Gamecocks struggled at the plate in this game (Matthews's bomb was our only hit). Game Two was a wild affair. Jordan Montgomery's streak of strong starts ended, with the young pitcher giving up 10 runs (although only six earned) in his five innings of work. Fortunately, his batters would bail him out, with Sean Sullivan hitting a walk-off single to give the 'Cocks a 12-11 victory. Sunday was all Carolina. Tanner chose to go with Patrick Sullivan as the starter in place of an injured Colby Holmes, and Sullivan pitched magnificently, with Nolan Belcher also doing a great job in middle relief. Carolina would win 9-1.
South Carolina (33-11, 14-7) is now, believe it or not, only a half game behind Kentucky for the lead in the East, and with the 'Cats taking on Vanderbilt this afternoon, there is a chance--although maybe not a good one--that we'll end the weekend tied for first place. Who would have thought it after the first two series of the season?