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.
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Comments » 33
vol4gzus writes:
Oh well, see ya next year. Hope the two pitchers that redshirted are as good as some have said. Hitting should be good with returning players. As noted from this weekend series runs scored was not a problem with 27 over the 3 games. Of course giving up 36 won't win ya alot.So if pitching becomes steady we could be middle of the pack and make it to Hoover next year. Till then beat the Blue Raiders and the Dores!!!
vol4gzus writes:
oops! that was 35 gamecock runs, not 36.
OrangePride writes:
Today's pitching was about as bad as it gets. Ramsey's appearance was the lone bright light thru the first 2/3 of the game.......although, Raleigh might well have lifted him a little earlier just to save his arm. The youngster was pretty much lights out for the first 6 batters.
So we finish this out and then relook at next year. If you look at this team, position to position, they are really not bad at all. They hit pretty well, the defense has been good to very good, and the group has a lot of players returning. Pitching!!! If THAT doesn't improve by A LOT, then it's going to be another lonnnnng year in 2010. There are a couple of decent arms, but they need a BUNCH more. Starters, mid-relief, you name it! Ramsey might step in as a good closer.
So Vols, lets just close on the best note you can and win the Vandy series. Go Vols!
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Why do we really keep this idiot of a coach. I know about the restrictions but blowing leads and giving up 15 runs a game is nothing but POOR coaching period. Is he not teaching these guys anything?? Pitching can be improved if you work with the players. This is crazy. Fire this idiot.
SFOrange writes:
Raleigh: "we've been resilient". WTF is he talking about?
New coach please.
beachvol1 writes:
Sorry baseball fans, but really starting to think that Hamilton made the wrong hire for baseball...Delmonico was better than this and didn't get booted out of a game....that I know of....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Appropriate ending for a dismal season.
SilatGamecock writes:
I was at the game today. Good weather, quite UT fans - well all but one short little granpa with a #44 disco chain - hope he was not any player's dad. Even UT fans were telling him to shut his drunk butt up. Over all good game and improved atmosphere. USC having a down year, but can still abuse sorry pitching.
us43137415#376444 writes:
You dudes stop trying to make Delmonico look good. He wasn't all that good. He had no dicipline over his players. Just ask the desk clerk I used to know at one of the dorms, when three of them roomed together. Girls, girls, girls all hours of the night, even game nights. Now, there's concentration...
This season is over.. I'm also figuring that Raleigh will have one more year, because none of the seniors this year he recruited. Next year, he'll have his own recruits. If he can't do it, Hamilton will dump him, and maybe he'll spend the coaching bucks worthy of a new renovated Lindsey Nelson stadium.
Anybody got anything on Harris? What's his story? If they won't tell us what it is, it must be bad.
HtownVol writes:
Hey bro, can you tell me what your user name means?
And you always talk smack about UT.. What team do you pull for?
Please give me mature answers. I know that most of your posts never have any reasoning, and I just want you to start explaining why you hate UT so much. I will never reply to you again. I know you will like the attention, just answer my question. Thanks.
Remember.... Who needs to hire what Sanders, and which team do you pull for?
DC_Vol writes:
Hey Htown,
Don't waste your time with this individual. He deserves no response. Note, he would never reply with an answer to you because he lacks dignity and class.
Here is the background on Hire Sanders. The hire sanders stands for Randy Sanders our old offensive coordinator, who was horrible at Tennessee and fired by Phil Fulmer. Kentucky has such a subpar football program they actually hired Sanders and he is currently now the offensive coodinator at Kentucky. Yes, he actually beleives Kentucky stole Randy Sanders from us. To show this individuals lack of intelligence, he is on here smack talking Vol Football when Kentucky hasn't beaten us in twenty five years.
Now that you know the whole story feel sorry for him the next time he posts, because his football team will never compete in the SEC, and don't give him what he wants a response.
HtownVol writes:
I thought so. I went to East high in Morristown, Tn. The same school as Randy Sanders. Mt mon actually graduated with him.
So is this guy saying that he would be all for UT if Sanders was on the staff? Why would anyone have such a man crush on him? There was a reason he got fired.
Thnx for the info DC.
GO VOLS!
Futurecoach16 writes:
All I heard on the radio was that Harris violated team rules and was suspended for the weekend. Because of this, he could not participate in the Senior Day activities.
DC_Vol writes:
Hey I apreciate the compliments but disagree with your opinion on Tennessee basketball. Bruce Pearl has turned this program around and won the SEC East several times and an out right SEC conference title. Tennessee basketball is much improved over the past few years and has finished with several sweet Sixteen finishes. Kentucky football rarely makes it to a bowl game and is lucky to finish anywhere but the cellar in SEC football.
I am sorry but I don't see any comparison between Tennessee Basketball in recent years and current Kentucky football. The Tennessee Vols are on the rise, while Kentucky football is still mediocre at best. Tennessee Basketball is a force and arguably the dominant or one of the dominant teams in the SEC, while Kentucky is lucky to play for fourth place in the SEC East football. Clearly, you can see your argument doesn't make sense just based on the facts/finishes of these two teams.
Again thanks for the compliments, but I don't see your point at all.
Go VOLS!!!!
us43137415#376444 writes:
Harris may be gone for good, not just for the weekend.
Sorta like Simunic last year.. his grades got him suspended for the rest of the season last year, with only a couple of games left, and then he chickened out on coming back.
Harris is a promising pitcher.. one of the few hopes the Vols had, going into next year.
If anybody hears what his violations were, please post here.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Hamilton has missed it with Raleigh.
Volunatic writes:
Whew! Only 35, then. Oh, well that's different. I now have a LOT more confidence in the baseball Vols' prospects next season.
Volunatic writes:
Can I "rite" it down, instead?
Volunatic writes:
Or maybe "Wright" it down. Yes, that would be better.
Volunatic writes:
At least UK and UT basketball fans don't change allegiances when their coach runs off for a better job.
The same thing can't be said about you Memphis fans.
WAllen2001 writes:
All I hear is no pitching, no pitching, no pitching. They will probably have 2 guys drafted in the top 10 rounds that are pitchers and have 1 1st round pick this year in Davis and they can't get a winning record. It is coaching. Plain and simple. You have talent. You just can't get your talent to perform. That is coaching. And don't tell me that wait till Raleigh gets his guys in there. Davis, Morgado, and Hernandez were all Delmonico guys that were great talented players. All anyone had to do was coach them. It did not happen. Give me Delmonico back and Slim behind him and any pitching coach and that should have been a competitive team. To have a losing record like that, is embarrassing.
Volunatic writes:
Wow, not only did you change allegiances, you also insulted your old team.
Cold. I almost pity Tiger High now.
armyvol22 writes:
We need pitching...any one know some good pitchers?
Volunatic writes:
Your insatiable desire to hurl insults toward the basketball programs at Kentucky and Tennessee clearly identifies you as a former Memphis fan.
If you were actually a longtime Tarheels fan, then whenever you needed to reaffirm your superiority you would either pick on Duke fans or go outside and step on ants.
GreyhairedVol writes:
Volunatic What is the obsession with Memphis?
GreyhairedVol writes:
Thanks Volunatic!
Volunatic writes:
Well, I really love Memphis BBQ, and the blues. I also have several good friends that hail from Bluff City.
However, the Tiger High fans on this site are pretty tiresome, or at least they were until Cal left them and they decided to root for other teams.
I (and several others) have correctly identified TarheelsDrool as one of these former Tiger High fans.
GreyhairedVol writes:
WOW! How did you do that?
Please let me know.
Some of you kids are really amusing.
GreyhairedVol writes:
If he was a true Memphis fan why would he be afraid to admit his allegiance to the tigers? If I was a Memphis fan I would be proud of the accomplishments of the Tiger program. I think you're reaching young man.
ncvol17 writes:
Let's bring in former VOL Rick Honeycutt as coach. That kid was one great pitcher in college and the pros. You never had a to stick a fork in him, he was never done..
I crave a double chili cheese.......
ncvol17 writes:
Grey, I live in the Triangle, and TARHEELSRULE is no UNC fan. Unless it's DUKE, Tar Heels don't get riled up and wouldn't waste time on SEC sites giving childish grief to fans outside the ACC. Would you go to an ACC site and blog BS to FSU, Maryland, UNC, NCSU fans? No, you wouldn't give a big whoop.
A UNC fan 'might' give grief to a UK fan because UNC rules the Cats and both have primo pedigrees in B Ball.
I crave a rooster sandwich..
WAllen2001 writes:
Hernandez and Morgado will go in the first 10 rounds! As far as not getting the most out of their talent, that is coaching obviously you have never played.
Volunatic writes:
I never said he was a true Memphis fan.
I said he is a FORMER Memphis fan, who decided to change allegiances and root for a winning team, now that Memphis is relegated to 3rd-class status with the departure of Calipari.
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