A general view of SEC signage. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Big Ten Conference
No. 2 Nebraska 12, No. 7 Ohio State 5
The Ohio State Buckeyes are eliminated from the tournament with Friday’s loss to Nebraska.
Nebraska outfielder Gabe Swansen was on fire with the bat throughout the game, recording four hits, including a three-run home run in the first inning. Four days ago, Ohio State slaughtered Nebraska 15-2 in the tournament opener, making Friday’s win more impressive.
Nebraska will play No. 3 Indiana in the semifinals at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
No. 4 Michigan 4, No. 1 Illinois 2
Illinois was eliminated from the tournament with Friday’s loss to Michigan.
Starting pitcher Will Rogers was outstanding on the mound for Michigan, throwing a career-high 8.2 innings and striking out nine, also a career-high. Remarkably, Rogers did not allow a hit until the eighth inning. Mitch Voit, who played left field and first base for Michigan in the game, went 2-for-5 with a triple and solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Michigan will play No. 8 Penn State in the semifinals at 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
No. 10 South Carolina 6, No. 3 Kentucky 5
South Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the second and three in the fifth to send Kentucky home.
Kentucky took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run double from Nolan McCarthy, but South Carolina answered quickly with a three-run home run from Gavin Casas, who now has five career home runs against the Wildcats. Will Tippett added a solo home run in the fifth, and the Gamecocks scored two additional runs on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and a bases-loaded walk.
South Carolina will play No. 11 LSU in the semifinals at 1 p.m. EDT, their first SEC Tournament semifinal game since 2017.
No. 1 Tennessee 6, No. 5 Mississippi State 5
Tennessee relinquished a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, allowing five Mississippi State runners to cross home plate.
Once again, Connor Hujsak came through in the clutch for Mississippi State, delivering a two-run single to tie the game at three in the fifth. The Bulldogs took their first lead on a Dakota Jordan two-run single one-batter later.
Before Jordan’s single, the two teams yelled back and forth at one another during a pitching change, assumingly using words you wouldn’t want your kids hearing. It’s unclear what the discussion was about, but the umpires quickly subsided the tension.
Tennessee tied the game at five in the top of the seventh on an RBI fielder’s choice from Cannon Pebbles. Dean Curley, who advanced to third on the play, scored the tying run on a throwing error from second baseman Amani Larry. Blake Burke launched a clutch solo home run in the eighth to give the Volunteers a 6-5 lead.
The Tennessee bullpen recorded the final six outs, setting up a matchup with No. 8 Vanderbilt in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
You can watch the tournaments on the BigTen Network and WatchESPN.
