South-Carolina
LSU baseball pulls off improbable comeback vs South Carolina in SEC Baseball Tournament
The game already had heads spinning.
LSU baseball had methodically erased an eight-run deficit, sending the game to extra innings, tied at 10-10 after Paxton Kling scored off a throwing error from South Carolina third baseman Lee Ellis.
In the top of the 10th, the Gamecocks attempted to steal home, but Blake Johnson was tagged out at home plate — which both teams thought ended the half inning. After lengthy debate, the umpire crew ruled LSU catcher Brady Neal stepped in front of home plate before he had possession of the ball from pitcher Griffin Herring. The run was awarded to South Carolina, giving it the 11-10 lead.
But that set the stage for Steven Milam. The freshman, with Hayden Travinksi on base, pounded a high fastball the became a walk-off, two-run home run to lift the Tigers to an improbable 12-11 win over the Gamecocks (36-23) in the SEC Baseball Tournament semifinals.
LSU (40-20) advances to the SEC Tournament championship game Sunday where it’ll face the winner of Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
REQUIRED READING LSU baseball rallies in 9th to edge South Carolina in SEC Baseball Tournament
LSU baseball climbs back into the game capitalizing off South Carolina miscues
Déjà vu.
South Carolina was in control late in the game. A throwing error from Talmadge LeCroy at third base allowed the Tigers to cut into the Gamecocks’ lead, cutting it to a one-run game. Michael Braswell ended up propelling LSU ahead in the ninth with an RBI single and LSU held on 11-10.
South Carolina, which led the Tigers 8-0 at one point in the SEC Baseball Tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon, clung to a 10-9 lead in the bottom of the ninth. A throwing error from USC third baseman Lee Ellis allowed LSU pinch hitter Ethan Frey to score from second to tie the game up 10-10, sending the game to extra innings.
LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson ejected in 10th inning on South Carolina’s attempt at stealing home
South Carolina coach Mark Kingston decided to gamble and send Blake Johnson home on a steal attempt with two outs in top of the 10th.
LSU catcher Brady Neal stepped forward as pitcher Griffin Herring began his throwing motion as Jackson was racing home. Initially, Jackson was called out as Neal caught the ball and placed the tag. But, after a lengthy discussion, the umpires determined Neal stepped on the plate without possession of the ball which is a violation of a rule that results in a balk and a interference.
As a result, South Carolina was awarded the run and LSU coach Jay Johnson became heated about the ruling. During his debate with the umpires, he was ejected — Johnson’s first instance of the season.
Despite not having their coach in the dugout, LSU came through in the end.
LSU baseball gets timely hits after going down big to South Carolina in SEC Baseball Tournament semifinals
It wasn’t a pretty start to the game for LSU. It looked out of gas and the defense was sloppy in the early stages of the game.
At the plate, the Tigers opened the game 0-for-10 with runners on and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They closed the game going 4-for-13 with base runners and 3-for-10 with RISP as the Tigers chipped away and eventually tied things up in the ninth.
LSU scored six runs with two outs, continuing a trend that’s won it a lot of ballgames down the stretch of the regular season.
LSU RALLIES PAST SOUTH CAROLINA LSU baseball rallies in 9th to edge South Carolina in SEC Baseball Tournament
LSU RUN RULES KENTUCKY LSU baseball run-rules Kentucky in SEC Baseball Tournament behind pair of grand slams
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
South-Carolina
South Carolina pauses childcare voucher applications, affecting thousands of families
LANDRUM, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A critical scholarship program for over 50,000 children across South Carolina was cut on Dec. 1 as the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) temporarily paused applications to their Working Families Child Care Scholarship Program.
The pause is leaving some parents begging leaders to see past the paperwork and understand the human impact.
“I just hope the people who are in control of all this can actually look at who it is affecting. It’s not just money given out, it’s not just a number, it’s real, live human people,” said Kayla Stivers, a parent affected by the pause.
Single mother Stivers said the Working Families Childcare Scholarship has changed her life. She has two children, works full-time time and goes to school.
“This is my livelihood. It’s my friends’ livelihood,” Stivers said. “I want to give the absolute best for my children as I possibly can, and this voucher helps.”
The recent pause in the childcare scholarship will soon leave her and her children without this assistance.
“Right now, I’m at the point where I have to start thinking about what I’m going to cut come February. If it’s going to be the sports that they’re in, it’s going to affect them majorly,” Stivers said.
DSS did not say how long they are pausing new applications, only that it is temporary. The department said the federal funding they have been using for the vouchers ran out last year and the government shutdown delayed additional funding they are still receiving.
Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center said a majority of children they care for use this state scholarship program. They are anticipating 66% of their families will lose the scholarship in the coming months.
“Families are stressed. It’s going to affect not just families, it’s going to affect the childcare industry, it’s going to affect the working industry. It’s going to be a major ordeal,” said Thomas Compton, region director for Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center.
The Spartanburg County First Steps Program called Quality Counts explained the pause on this funding is also impacting dozens of childcare centers across the county and could leave a ripple effect impacting children, parents and businesses.
“The only way to help prevent this is to get the people in power to talk about this and be aware of it and to know the facts,” said Cathleen Cullen, assistant director of Spartanburg County First Steps Quality Counts Program.
DSS has requested $20 million in state funds for 2026 through 2027 for this issue, but there is no word yet on where those funds stand.
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South-Carolina
South Carolina man accused of threatening Rochester city attorney for charging woman who went on racist rant at park
A South Carolina man is accused of threatening a city attorney in Minnesota over charges filed against a woman who admitted to hurling racist slurs at a child with autism at a park.
The original incident occurred in April at Roy Sutherland Playground in Rochester, Minnesota. Charges said the woman repeatedly called an 8-year-old Somali boy a racial slur after he took an applesauce pouch from her diaper bag. The boy’s father said he is “profoundly and visibly autistic” and “does not understand typical boundaries.”
A witness began recording the woman after the fact, and the video of that confrontation went viral. In the video, the woman defended her use of the slur, saying “she can call him that ‘if he acts like one,’” according to the complaint. She also called the witness a slur on video.
The Rochester City Attorney’s Office charged the woman with three counts of disorderly conduct in August.
A criminal complaint filed against the South Carolina man last week said the attorney’s office “received many phone calls from across the world” that “expressed opinions about the charging decision.”
Several messages allegedly came from the South Carolina man. In one, he threatened to “travel all the way to your f***ing state, to your f***ing city, and I will start murdering every last one of you,” the complaint states.
Investigators identified the South Carolina man as a suspect using phone records, and law enforcement in that state visited his home. A detective from Rochester subsequently called him, and the man said “he was upset that [the woman] had been charged with a crime but agreed he would stop calling the city attorney’s office,” the complaint said.
The man is charged with one felony count of threats of violence and two gross misdemeanor counts of harassment.
The woman started an online fundraiser after the viral video, saying she needed money to protect her family. She raised about $700,000.
The boy’s family said they “no longer feel safe” in the community after the incident. The Rochester NAACP started a fundraiser for the family that raised about half as much as the woman’s.
One day after completing his official visit to South Carolina, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star RB Carsyn Baker has decommitted from Florida, he told Rivals Hayes Fawcett on Monday night.
A one-time Gamecock lean early in the process and long-time Florida commitment, Baker began taking another look at other programs following the firing of head coach Billy Napier.
After taking trips to North Carolina and Kentucky, Baker completed his visit slate with an official to South Carolina this weekend, his last before National Signing Day.
Baker told GamecockCentral that he’ll make a final decision on Wednesday morning.
Monday intel on South Carolina flip targets including Baker | Baker discusses South Carolina official visit
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is being recruited to South Carolina by running backs coach Marquel Blackwell.
Baker is the No. 198 overall prospect and No. 16 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 24 recruit in Georgia.
“I sign on Wednesday morning,” Baker said. “It’s going to come down to everything, the next couple of days I’m going to talk to my family and see what’s the best place and best fit for me. I think I’ll know Tuesday when I wake up and then Wednesday morning when I sign those papers, I’ll know exactly where I’m going.”
If Baker chooses the Gamecocks, he would be the lone pledge in Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class after Amari Thomas flipped to Florida State last month.
The 14-man class is currently ranked No. 19 in the country.
National Signing Day is set for this Wednesday.
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