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9 Innings: Surprising losses, late rallies, star performances mark Week 2 of SEC baseball
By Joe Cox
Published:
The No. 1 crown has proved too heavy for a second SEC school in 2 weeks, but the league remains among the strongest powers in the game, despite some surprising upsets in Week 2. The weekend featured its fair share of late rallies from SEC powers, and there’s a ton to cover. So here’s our weekly list of 9 takeaways from the SEC week that was:
1. Ole Miss stumbles, too
The Rebels had jumped atop the national polls off a strong opening showing, as they went 3-0 in Texas, knocking off TCU, Texas Tech, and Texas over last weekend and Monday. That said, the crown proved heavy again, as UCF won 2 of 3 from the Rebels, who fell to No. 5 in the Baseball America Top 25 poll released Monday. The Rebels scored only a pair of runs in 3-2 and 7-2 losses and needed a 3-run ninth inning rally to win the middle game 6-5. That said …
2. Plumlee goes deep
John Rhys Plumlee continues to do double duty in football and baseball for the Rebels, and he showed his skills with this impressive bomb on Wednesday. That was his first career home run. He stole a base in the Rebels’ Saturday win over UCF and continues to be a significant contributor off the bench. Not unlike football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnmhVE8yuRE&feature=youtu.be
3. Vandy gets going
After weather pushed the Commodores back to Monday, Vandy opened with a nice 6-1 run. The ‘Dores did have a surprising 4-2 loss on Friday against Georgia State, and hung on for a 5-4 win on Saturday. Vandy’s hitting has struggled in spots, but the pitching remains strong.
Vandy (6-1) swept the doubleheader on Sunday behind Kumar Rocker (5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 Ks) and Jack Leiter (5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 Ks). Both aces are 2-0 and have yet to allow an earned run as they continue their season-long competition to become the No. 1 overall draft pick in the June draft.
Rocker and Leiter have thrown a combined 19 innings with no runs allowed and 29 strikeouts. Sounds about right.
Jack Leiter, Beautiful Curveball. ? pic.twitter.com/IAAA5EaEZ7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 28, 2021
4. Arkansas to the top
The Razorbacks (7-0) jumped to the No. 1 spot in the Baseball America Top 25 poll. After winning close games in their opening week, the Razorback bats have warmed up. After an impressive last-ditch 3-run rally in the ninth on Thursday that led to a walk-off win over Southeast Missouri in the 10th, Arkansas won the next 3 games by 4, 6 and 7 runs.
Not your ordinary walk-off. @RazorbackBSB wins it in the 10th! pic.twitter.com/vtMH4aY8KH
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 26, 2021
5. The other undefeateds
The SEC has a pair of other undefeated squads, and if you banked on Kentucky and South Carolina, then it might be time to play the lottery. The Gamecocks jumped to No. 13 after picking up a couple of walk-off wins over Clemson this weekend. Kentucky started off late due to COVID but has won its first 4 games as coach Nick Mingione inked a surprisingly timed contract extension.
ANDREW EYSTER DOES IT AGAIN ?@GamecockBasebll TAKES THE SERIES OVER CLEMSON! pic.twitter.com/2RZDnbo8rC
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 28, 2021
6. State rallying late
Add Mississippi State to the lists of teams that have had a little trouble and made some great late rallies. The Bulldogs lost to TCU last week and struggled through a 4-error 7-3 loss to Tulane on Friday. That said, they rallied with their own pair of walk-off wins on the weekend, including Luke Hancock’s Saturday slam. The Bulldogs will need to tighten up a bit for SEC play but certainly bear watching.
Luke Hancock pimping a walk-off grand slam is everything! (via @HailStateBB) pic.twitter.com/dk6u7fzifJ
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) February 28, 2021
7. The league’s early disappointments
Missouri simply cannot pitch. Being 3-5 after a series loss to Grand Canyon and a split against Omaha is disappointing. But giving up double-digit runs in 4 of those 8 games might be more worrisome. They did score 36 runs in their 2-2 series with Omaha, but the hitters are going to have to slug plenty to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M followed a 1-2 opening week with a loss to Abilene Christian and a 1-run win over Tarleton State. They did pick up 2 wins in the Round Rock Classic, but then fell on Sunday to Auburn in a 6-1 decision that leaves the Aggies at .500 2 weeks in.
Tennessee’s surprising pair of losses to Indiana State also deserve a mention. As does Auburn winning 33-0 — but then losing 2 games.
8. Wes Clarke continues to mash
South Carolina infielder/catcher Wes Clarke has always been a great offensive player. That said, even Clarke would have to admit that he can’t continue his pace from the 2021 season to date. Two weeks in, Clarke has some video game numbers: 14-for-22 (.636), 2 doubles, 8 homers, 17 RBI and 9 walks. Clarke led the SEC and was 3rd in the nation with 8 homers last year … in 16 games. Now he’s tied that mark in 6 games. Even when he returns to Earth, guy’s making a great case for SEC Player of the Year.
Not one … Not two … THREE homers for @GamecockBasebll's Wes Clarke ? pic.twitter.com/zRjKty4hqa
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 24, 2021
9. Jaden Hill … still dominant
Rocker and Leiter have gotten plenty of preseason love, deservedly so, but don’t sleep on LSU ace Jaden Hill.
He threw 6 innings of 1-hit ball Friday, striking out 4 in a victory over Youngstown State.
Hill also is 2-0 and has yet to allow a run in 10 innings.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.