Week 10 review
Auburn
The Tigers finished the regular season on a positive note as they won their third consecutive series. Auburn defeated Arkansas twice last weekend to improve to 33-23 overall and 13-17 in conference play.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide traveled to Nashville and upset the Vanderbilt Commodores in one game last weekend. Despite losing the series, Alabama became only the third SEC team to beat the Commodores this season. Alabama’s record fell to 33-25 overall and 14-15 in league play.
SEC Tournament recap:
Days 1 and 2
The opening day of the SEC baseball tournament on Tuesday (May 21) was single elimination format. In the first game of the day, Ole Miss defeated Kentucky 4-1. Alabama and Auburn then met for the fifth time this season. The teams played four times in the regular season, with each team winning twice, The Crimson Tide fell behind 3-1 early in the game before storming back for a 6-3 victory.
In the night games, Texas A&M defeated Florida, 6-3, to win its first-ever SEC tournament game.
In the last game of the day, Mississippi State and Missouri squared off in what turned out to be a 17-inning thriller. The Bulldogs tied the game 1-1 in the fifth inning, and then both teams went nearly 12 innings without scoring a run. In the bottom of the 17th inning, Mississippi State’s Mitch Slauter drove in the game-winning run for the 2-1 victory.
On the second day of the tournament, the format changed to double elimination. The first game of the day involved a pitching duel between Arkansas and Ole Miss, with the Razorbacks slipping by the Rebels, 2-1. LSU then knocked off Alabama, 3-0. Texas A&M pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating top-seeded Vanderbilt 5-0. The Aggies hit four home runs in the upset over the Commodores. In the last game, Mississippi State beat South Carolina 5-3.
Final SEC rankings
1. Vanderbilt (48-8, 26-3)
2. LSU (49-8, 23-7)
3. Arkansas (36-19, 18-11)
4. South Carolina (39-17, 17-12)
5. Mississippi State (42-16, 16-14)
6. Ole Miss (37-21, 15-15)
7. Alabama (33-25, 14-15)
8. Florida (29-28, 14-16)
9. Texas A&M (32-25, 13-16)
10. Auburn (33-23, 13-17)
11. Kentucky (30-25, 11-19)
12. Missouri (18-32, 10-20)
13. Tennessee (23-29, 9-19)
14. Georgia (21-32, 7-20)
Tournament predictions
Vanderbilt entered the tournament as the favorite, but the Commodores lost their opening game to Texas A&M. LSU currently is in the best shape, but the Tigers’ road to the SEC championship will not be easy.
Mississippi State has momentum on its side after its exciting opening win, and Texas A&M has beaten both Florida and Vandy.
Arkansas is also dangerous after defeating Ole Miss. The Rebels are in the loser bracket but have the potential to climb their way out if they get a favorable matchup.
SEC champion prediction: LSU