Alabama's Alex Kubal is tagged out at third by South Carolina's Nick Ebert. The Gamecocks scored four runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat the Tide 9-5 in the opening round of the SEC tournament. Photo courtesy of Alex Gilbert/University of Alabama Athletics
South Carolina scored four runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat the Tide 9-5 in a first-round game that lasted 3 hours, 57 minutes.
Alabama, which owned leads of 3-0 and 4-1 in the loss, has a quick turnaround as it faces an elimination game with top-seeded LSU at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The Gamecocks will play Vanderbilt in the second round at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
To make matters worse for Alabama, third baseman/pitcher Jake Smith was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after appearing to injure his leg running out the final out of the game.
Smith was on the field for 13 minutes before the ambulance arrived to take him away.
South Carolina scored runs on a wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk, and a 2-RBI double in the second extra inning.
