No heroics for Vols, lose to South Carolina in home finale, 15-6

No rally necessary.

South Carolina picked up Sunday afternoon where it left off Saturday night, wearing out the base paths at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in a 15-6 SEC rout of Tennessee.

This time, the Gamecocks (32-19, 14-13 SEC) didn’t have to dig out of any dramatic holes to clinch the series.

They struck for four runs in their first at-bat and led 12-0 by the fifth inning.

The Vols (22-29, 8-19 SEC) went quietly in their final home appearance of the season after honoring six seniors before the opening pitch.

Perhaps having been eliminated from the SEC tournament race on Saturday night was deflating.

Perhaps the manner in which they were eliminated — blowing leads of 9-1 and 12-6 in a 15-12 loss — had something to do with it as well.

“That was completely disheartening (Saturday night),’’ said catcher Blake Forsythe, “but we push ‘don’t bring the hangover from the day before.’ ’’

“We’ve been resilient,’’ said coach Todd Raleigh, “but when we walk the first two batters in the game and they get the home runs, I think that brought us down more than (Saturday’s) game.’’

Pitching was again at the root of Tennessee’s downfall. South Carolina had 15 hits, five of them home runs, and enjoyed six walks and two hit-batsmen.

It was a domino effect, relating to right-hander Ty’Relle Harris being suspended for the rest of the season for a violation of team policy.

Harris was supposed to start Saturday, with Bryan Morgado slated for Sunday, Raleigh said.

Morgado, however, was needed in relief Saturday and ended up taking the loss.

Freshman Adam Adkins (2-1) got the start Sunday but lasted only five batters. Four of them scored.

Adkins walked the first two Gamecocks, retired the third then gave up back-to-back home runs to Jackie Bradley and Justin Dalles.

Senior Joey Rosas had a similar experience in the third. Making only his third appearance of the season, the left-hander faced five batters.

He walked three of them, gave up a grand slam to Andrew Crisp and a double.

“They come out and get eight runs on three hits,’’ said Raleigh. “After last night’s tough one, we needed to come out and throw a couple of zeroes and the game could have been different.’’

Added Forsythe, “We’ve got some guys who come out there ready to pitch every day.

“The other ones sometimes don’t bring it when they’re called upon. That’s a learning experience. A lot of the guys are young.’’

South Carolina’s Blake Cooper (7-4) came out ready to pitch Sunday, throwing seven strong innings. UT scored its final five runs off reliever Michael Roth.

Shortstop Zach Osborne hit a three-run home run in the eighth.

Senior Cody Brown from Farragut singled in his final home-field at-bat in the ninth and scored on Forsythe’s double.

Matt Hamaker followed with an RBI triple.

But it was too little, too late with that glaring “15” on South Carolina’s scoreboard line.

That’s 30 runs in two games allowed by Tennessee pitching.

“Some of our guys are young,’’ said Brown, “and they could be good when they get older.

“Adam’s going to be good next year, so will Will (Locante) and Matt Ramsey.’’

This year has unfinished business. The Vols have four games left: one at MTSU and a series at Vanderbilt.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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