SEC baseball roundup

Posted 8:41AM on Sunday 31st March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Brian Buscher's grand slam in the seventh inning lifted South Carolina to a 9-6 victory over Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide (23-4) trailed by three in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. However, South Carolina reliever Blake Taylor got Carlos Sosa to hit into a double play to save things for the Gamecocks (22-6). Taylor earned his seventh save of the season. South Carolina was up 5-4 in the seventh when it loaded the bases on a walk, Trey Dyson's third hit of the game and a hit batter by reliever Brian Reed. Buscher followed with his fifth homer of the season, a long shot over the right centerfield fence to put the Gamecocks further in front. Yaron Peters had a two-run homer in the first inning for South Carolina, his 10th of the season. Dyson added a two-run shot in the third, his eighth of the year. Travis Garner was Alabama's hitting start with three singles, a double and a solo home run in the third inning. David Marchbanks (6-2) pitched 6 2-3 innings for South Carolina to gain the victory. Shane Sanders (4-1) worked just two innings for the Crimson Tide, giving up eight hits and five runs for the loss. FLORIDA 9, AUBURN 5 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Ryan Shealy hit a two-run home run as Florida came back from an early 5-0 deficit to beat Auburn 9-5 Saturday. The Gators (23-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) manufactured the go-ahead run in the sixth inning on an odd play. With the scored tied and runners on the corners, Aaron Sobieraj popped out to catcher Todd Pratt. Mark Kiger made the questionable decision to try to advance to second on the out. Pratt had Kiger hung up on the throw, but Kiger stayed in the run down long enough for Brian Rose to score from third. The throw back to home would have nailed Rose by four steps, but Pratt dropped it and Rose scored. After a rough start, Florida starter Alex Hart (8-0) settled in against the Tigers (21-7, 5-3). He allowed five hits and five runs, three earned, in 7 2-3 innings. He also walked five and struck out five. Arnold Hughey (0-1) got the loss after one inning of relief. Pratt hit a two-run homer for Auburn.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/196690