It might get overshadowed a bit by that other roundball sport, but SEC baseball continues with the last full weekend before conference play. The league’s top teams fared well, but the story of the week came from one of the league’s bottom dwellers … which delivered an unlikely series win. We recap it and the rest of the week here on Extra Innings.

1. South Carolina wins series over No. 1 Texas

You’re welcome, Gamecock fans. When I picked Carolina dead last in the SEC in last week’s power rankings, I figured USC would get humbled by No. 1 Texas in their weekend series. It wasn’t an unreasonable expectation — Clemson swept Carolina the weekend before. But nobody bothered telling the Gamecocks not to show up. They started the week with a brutal 15-7 loss to Xavier … and then won 2 of 3 from the top-ranked Longhorns, losing 9-5 on Saturday but sweeping a Sunday doubleheader 4-2 and 9-4. Texas’ pitching had been nearly unhittable, but Carolina had no problems. Outfielder Andrew Eyster is hitting .400 and picked up RBIs No. 20 and 21 in the second game of the doubleheader. Can USC keep this momentum going?

2. The Jacob Berry show continues

LSU had a good week, going 4-0 and providing a showcase for Arizona transfer Jacob Berry, who isn’t just the favorite for the SEC Player of the Year, he might be a favorite for the National Player of the Year award.

Berry is hitting .382, and his 8 homers led the league entering play on Sunday. As the LSU info-graphic shows, if Berry keeps hitting 443-foot bombs, he’s definitely getting his money’s worth. If LSU can put together enough pitching to hang with the best of the SEC West, the sky is the limit for the Tigers … even if Berry hits a few drives into outer space.

3. Ole Miss keeps on

The Rebels split a Sunday doubleheader with Oral Roberts, dropping them to 13-2 on the season. But the offense continues to impress, putting up 42 runs in the week’s 4 games. The Rebels are 4th in the SEC in runs scored and in ERA. The only team to join them in the top 4 of both categories is Tennessee, which fits well as the Rebels and Vols are probably atop the league’s divisions. As long as Tim Elko keeps up the power game (7 homers, 23 RBIs) and Jacob Gonzalez continues his all-around genius, the Rebels will be a threat for Omaha.

4. Fun walk-off opens successful week for Vols

Tennessee continues crushing the ball (.356 team average, led by Jared Dickey’s absurd .511 mark) and surprising with excellence on the mound (2.09 ERA, 2nd only to Vandy). The Vols, at 15-1, have played a soft schedule and haven’t had a ton of chances for late-inning heroics. Which made Jorel Ortega’s 10th-inning walk-off liner on Tuesday extra special. The Vols had blown a 7-1 lead, but Ortega finished the first game of a week that wasn’t qute this competitive. Still, it was a fun reminder of UT’s 2021 season that featured plenty of comebacks. This season hasn’t needed many yet.

5. Vandy’s bats arrive

The Commodores swept Wagner over the weekend, but the impressive thing was Vandy putting up 12, 13, and 15 runs in those 3 games. Dominic Keegan has been impressive, hitting .442 and tying for the team lead with 4 homers.

So far this year, Vandy has managed 59 extra-base hits and has allowed just 17. The pitching is definitely there, but having guys like Keegan keep things moving on the base paths can only help. The 13-2 Dores look ready for conference play.

6. State rights the ship, at least somewhat

After a rough start to the 2022 season, Mississippi State split 2 games with Texas Tech and then swept Princeton to improve to 10-7. The Texas Tech win was impressive, as State rolled to an 11-5 win. State’s .266 team batting average is still 13th in the SEC, and the path up the SEC West standings will largely depend on MSU’s ability to put up sufficient runs to let their young pitchers grow and develop.

7. Florida continues to look strong

The Gators dropped a 6-4 decision to Seton Hall on Sunday, but otherwise won the week, improving to 13-4. It wasn’t always easy — see a 1-0 win over Jacksonville on Tuesday or a sweat-it-out 11-9 win over Seton Hall in which UF’s bullpen gave up 6 runs in the 9th inning. Still, winning ugly is better than losing, and UF looks considerably more solid than their 2021 edition.

8. Georgia’s Luke Wagner, win scavenger

Georgia had a 4-1 week, improving to 13-3 on the year. Georgia’s starting pitching has been solid, but bullpen arm Luke Wagner has been downright impressive. Wagner has worked 12 1/3 innings in 5 appearances, all in relief … and he’s 5-0. The 0.73 ERA and 17 strikeouts attest that Wagner has been good, but he’s also been lucky to grab all those victories, 2 ahead of the nearest competitor in the SEC leaders list.

9. SEC play is here

This weekend will guarantee some marquee series matchups. Suddenly hot South Carolina goes to Knoxville. Mississippi State will try to right the ship in Athens against UGA. The new coaches at A&M and LSU will face off in Baton Rouge. Best of all, there’s no more time to wonder who is piling up easy wins against Little Brothers of the Poor or who can and can’t compete in the SEC.