SEC Sunday recaps: Teams combine for 119 runs on Sunday

If you like offense, the SEC was the place to be on Sunday. There were 119 total runs scored, an average of 19.8 runs per game. Mississippi State (19), Arkansas (18), Ole Miss (14), Kentucky (13), South Carolina (13) and Auburn (10) all scored double figures. Miss. State sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs in the 35-minute to the top of the first inning. MSU right fielder Tanner Allen went 2-for-2 with one triple and three RBIs in the inning. Arkansas outlasted Ole Miss 18-14 to take over sole possession of first place in the SEC Western Division. Alabama completed its first SEC sweep since 2017 as the Crimson Tide took care of Texas A&M, 7-4.

TEAM OF THE DAY:

Alabama completed the three-game sweep of Texas A&M with a 7-4 in the series finale. The Crimson Tide recorded its first SEC sweep since winning all three games at Auburn in 2017. UA designated hitter Owen Diodati blasted the go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Crimson Tide the lead.

GAME OF THE DAY:

Arkansas slugged its way to the top of the SEC Western Division standings with an 18-14 series-clinching win at Ole Miss. The Razorbacks belted three home runs and jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the third inning. Ole Miss battled back and tied the game at 14-14 in the seventh inning. Arkansas scored three runs in the eighth and pulled away for the win. The Razorbacks collected 13 hits and took advantage of 17 walks by the Rebel pitching staff.

PLAYER OF THE DAY:

Mississippi State catcher Logan Tanner went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, one double, one home run and five RBIs in the high-scoring win at Auburn. He had a two-run single in the 10-run first inning and added a three-run homer in the eighth inning. He led MSU with three hits and five RBIs on Sunday.

PITCHER OF THE DAY:

Florida right-hander Christian Scott retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced as the Gators salvaged the series finale in Knoxville. Scott held the Vols to one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He added six strikeouts and walked one batter. It was Scott’s first win of the season.

SUNDAY RECAPS:

Arkansas 18, Ole Miss 14 (Oxford)

Records: Arkansas (26-5, 9-3 SEC); Ole Miss (24-8, 8-4 SEC)

Series: Arkansas won series, 2-1

Arkansas slugged it way to the top of the SEC Western Division standings with a wild 18-14 series-clinching win at Ole Miss.

The Razorbacks jumped out to an 11-0 lead on the strength of three home runs. Third baseman Cullen Smith smacked a three-run home run and left fielder Brayden Webb (1-2, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB) added a two-run homer in the five-run second inning. Right fielder Cayden Wallace (2-6, HR, 3 RBI) capped a six-run third inning with a three-run blast to give the Hogs a double-digit lead.

Ole Miss did not back down. The Rebels scored five runs in third inning and five more runs in the sixth to cut lead to 14-11. Third baseman Justin Bench (3-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI) cracked a three-run homer in the third and second baseman Payton Chatagnier (3-6, 3 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI) ripped a three-run double in the sixth.

The Rebels added three more runs in the seventh tie the game at 14-14, wiping out an 11-run deficit.

Arkansas answered with three runs in the eighth to take a 17-14 lead. First baseman Brady Slavens had a two-run double and centerfielder Christian Franklin added an RBI single.

The Hogs recorded 13 hits in the win and took advantage of 17 walks by Ole Miss pitchers. The Rebels used nine different pitchers and all nine issued at least one walk.

UA shortstop Jalen Battles went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks for the Hogs.

Arkansas super reliever Kevin Kopps notched his fifth win of the season. He worked three innings and allowed one run and four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

Florida 7, Tennessee 6 (Knoxville)

Records: Tennessee (27-6, 9-3 SEC); Florida (21-11, 6-6 SEC)

Series: Tennessee won series, 2-1

Kris Armstrong hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the eighth inning to life the Gators to a 7-6 win at Tennessee in the series finale.

The Gators trailed 6-5 entering the inning before taking the lead off UT closer Sean Hunley.

UF shortstop Josh Rivera stroked a one-out single and third baseman Colby Halter followed with a double to right-center field. The Gators turned to Armstrong, who blasted a three-run homer to right to give the Gators the 7-6 lead.

The series finale was a carbon copy of the first two games, a back-and-forth, tight game decided in the late innings. The lead changed hands three times in the game.

Tennessee catcher Connor Pavolony gave Tennessee a 6-3 lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Florida right-hander Christian Scott retired 14 of the 16 batters and held the Vols scoreless over the final 4 2/3 innings. He added six strikeouts and walked one batter. It was Scott’s first win of the season.

Mississippi State 19, Auburn 10 (Auburn)

Records: Mississippi State (24-7, 8-4 SEC); Auburn (12-16, 1-11 SEC)

Series: MSU won series, 3-0

Mississippi State scored 10 runs in a 35-minute top of the first inning in a 19-10 win at Auburn.

MSU sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning and got two hits and three RBIs from right fielder Tanner Allen.

Allen stroked a one-out single to start the barrage and later added a three-run triple before Auburn came to bat.

MSU had six players score two or more runs, five players with two or more hits and four players with two or more RBIs.

MSU catcher Logan Tanner went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, one double, one home run and five RBIs. He had a two-run single in the 10-run first inning and added a three-run homer in the eighth inning. He led MSU with three hits and five RBIs on Sunday.

Third baseman Kamren James had three hits and scored four runs for the Bulldogs.

Auburn got three home runs from shortstop Ryan Bliss, Bryson Ware and Kason Howell.

Auburn’s struggles on the mound continued. AU starter Joseph Gonzalez faced 11 batters in the first inning and allowed nine earned runs.

The Tigers allowed a season-high 19 runs on the loss to MSU. Auburn also allowed 10 runs in a 19-11 loss at Ole Miss on March 21. AU has allowed 10 or more runs in five games this season, and has lost all five games,

Alabama 7, Texas A&M 4 (College Station)

Records: Alabama (19-12, 5-7 SEC); Texas A&M (19-15, 3-9 SEC)

Series: Alabama won series, 3-0

Designated hitter Owen Diodati hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift Alabama to a 7-4 win at Texas A&M.

The win gave Alabama its first SEC series sweep since winning all three games at Auburn in 2017.

Diodati finished 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBIs to lead the Tide offense.

Third baseman Zane Denton added two hits and three RBIs.

Texas A&M second baseman Ty Coleman hit a game-tying, solo homer in the fifth inning.

Designated hitter Austin Bost led the Aggies with four hits.

Alabama right hander Chase Lee worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season and second of the weekend.

South Carolina 13, Missouri 4 (Columbia, SC)

Records: Missouri (11-19, 4-8 SEC); South Carolina (21-9, 8-4 SEC)

Series: South Carolina won series, 2-1

South Carolina rebounded from a series opening loss to take the SEC weekend set from Missouri with a 13-4 win.

Right fielder Andrew Eyster (2-2, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), first baseman David Mendham (1-2, 3 RBI, 2 BB), catcher Colin Burgess (2-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI) and third baseman Brennan Milone (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) combined for two home runs and nine RBIs in the win.

Milone stroked a two-run homer in the second inning and Eyster belted a two-run homer in the eighth.

Centerfielder Brady Allen had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three runs.

Brett Kerry pitched four innings and struck out eight for his fourth win of the season.

Second baseman Mark Vierling and shortstop Joshua Day both homered for Missouri. Day’s fourth-inning, solo homer had an exit velocity of 103 miles per hour.

Kentucky 13, LSU 4 (Lexington)

Records: LSU (20-12, 3-9 SEC); Kentucky (20-9, 6-6 SEC)

Series: LSU won series, 2-1

Kentucky hit three home runs to salvage the finale game of the series with LSU.

UK scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to blow open a tight game and posted a 13-4 win.

LSU first baseman Tre’ Morgan blasted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to cut the UK lead to 5-3.

The Wildcats answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the win. Right fielder Oraj Anu hit a two-run homer and first baseman TJ Collet stroked a three-run double to highlight the eight-run frame.

Catcher Coltyn Kessler and center fielder Austin Schultz also homered for the Cats.