Alabama Falls to South Carolina in First Round of SEC Tournament

The No. 7 seed Alabama Crimson Tide fall to the No. 10 seed South Carolina 9-5 in the single elimination portion of the SEC tournament.

The Gamecocks were powered by an explosive outing from their offense, sending four homers into the seats and knocking 14 hits to score ten runs on the Crimson Tide.

Farone quicked off the afternoon with a quick groundout and strikeout before a Blake Jackson single to right field would extend the inning for the Gamecocks. The following at-bat, South Carolina catcher Cole Messina would rip a liner to right-center field, but a spectacular diving grab by William Hamiter would keep runs off the board and end the inning.

The Alabama offense would jump on South Carolina starter Dylan Eskew in the first. Ian Petrutz would leg out a one-out infield single, and an errant throw would advance him to second base. A Justin Lebron ground out to second base would advance Petrutz to third before a William Hamiter would rip a ground ball through the middle of the infield to score the game's first run.

The top of the second would follow a similar recipe to the first inning. Farone would force a quick groundout before allowing another single to right field, this time to Kennedy Jones. Dalton Reeves would rip a liner into centerfield; however, TJ McCants made a great run to snag a potential extra-base hit to prevent any Gamecock runs. The following at-bat, Bryce Eblin, would make a great defensive play for the Tide, ranging back and flashing the leather to end the inning.

The Tide offense would keep the engine revving on offense in the top of the second. A Mac Guscette single and TJ McCants double put runners in scoring position for first baseman Will Hodo. Eskew would hit Hodo to load the bases and promptly hit Bryce Eblin the following at-bat, adding one more run for the Crimson Tide. The order would flip back to the top, sending Gage Miller to the plate with the bases loaded. Miller would send a sacrifice fly to center, scoring TJ McCants to make the Alabama lead 3-0.

South Carolina would go to the bullpen, bringing in Matthew Becker to weather the storm. Becker would get two straight outs to escape the jam for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina third baseman Gavin Casas would lead off the top of the third with a bang, sending a leadoff homer to left field. A highlight grab and throw by Justin Lebron would get the first out of the inning; however, it would be followed up with another home run to left field, this time via Ethan Petry. Farone would allow one more single before Jason Jackson and the coaching staff opted to bring in Aidan Moza in relief.

Moza would allow a leadoff single to Cole Messina, then force a fly out to left field, which advanced both runners. Moza would then allow a walk to load the bases for Dalton Reeves.

Reeves would smash a no-doubter to right field to put four runs on three board and take the lead for South Carolina. A lineout ends the disastrous six-run inning for the Gamecocks.

Looking to respond, the Tide can't tack on any runs despite a one-out walk from Kade Snell and a two-out single from TJ McCants.

Alabama would bring in Alton Davis II in the top of the fourth.

Gavin Casas would pick right back up after his leadoff homerun with a leadoff double. On the first pitch of the following at-bat, Davis II would hit Austin Brinling. However, a double play and lineout would get the Tide out of the jam.

The Tide chipped into the Gamecock lead via a Justin Lebron RBI fielder choice and an RBI double from William Hamiter.

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Cole Messina leads off the top of the fifth with another homerun for the Gamecocks to extend their lead to 7-5. Noland is hit by a pitch the following at-bat, but Davis II is able to get out of the jam with three straight outs.

At the bottom of the fifth, the Tide knocked on the door but couldn't tack on any more runs.

Cole Messina would continue his hot day in the top of the sixth with a two-RBI double off the wall, scoring Blake Jackson and Ethan Petry to extend the Gamecock lead to 9-5.

The game would enter a lull; the only other run crossing home plate would come via an RBI-double play for South Carolina.

The Tide got two on base in the bottom of the ninth but couldn't do anything with it, falling to the South Carolina Gamecocks, 10-5.

The Crimson Tide will return to Tuscaloosa and await their fate for the Selection Show on Monday, May 27.