From: Cole
The Gamecocks travel to Tuscaloosa this weekend to try and wrap up the overall SEC title. Opposing ace Michael Roth on Thursday for the Crimson Tide will be former closer Nathan Kilcrease. Kilcrease, who is listed at 5'5", was the team's closer for most of the year in 2010 before moving into the starting role. He was almost unhitable early in the 2010 campaign until the Gamecocks finally got to him in extra innings. One important note is that while all pitchers are going a day early this week due to the Thursday start, Kilcrease is getting only 5 days rest due to last week's rainout. He is 5-4 on the year with a 3.74 era. On Friday, the Tide will send Jr. lefty Adam Morgan to the hill with his 3.89 era. Saturday is TBA. As a team they are 10th in strikeouts at 330. In contrast the Gamecocks are 2nd with 420.
Alabama is 9th in the league in runs scored, hitting at .279 and last in home runs with 19. USC is 3rd in runs scored, 5th in hitting at .298 and 3rd in home runs with 40. The Tide's leading hitter is catcher Brock Bennett. Bennett is the league's 4th leading hitter at .366, but has yet to hit a homer. Bama's two greatest offensive threats are ss Jarod Reaves, a junior college transfer, and CF Taylor Dugas. Both are hitting north of .330 and provide some of the only power in the Bama lineup. Dugas is 8/12 in stolen bases this year. Bennett is 8/10, which is very odd for a catcher. Basically, the Tide don't do a lot of things great, but do everything well. Tuscaloosa is a tough place to play and Tanner's crew must bring their A game to capture the league crown.
