South Carolina baseball is watching the NCAA Tournament from home for the second time in three years, and let's just say Gamecock fans aren't too happy about it.
The program is six years removed from the second of back-to-back College World Series titles and just 12 months from a Super Regional berth, but there's not much room for optimism anymore. Ranked No. 4 in the preseason, this team was supposed to be the team. The team that brought garnet and black back to Omaha.
I don't need to tell you that it wasn't that team.
With plenty of people calling for Chad Holbrook's job, all eyes will be on Ray Tanner's office and his upcoming decision (or lack thereof) regarding his former top assistant.
But how exactly did we get here? This USC team was just about as talented as advertised, but the Gamecocks just couldn't catch a break. Let's take a painstaking look back at the season that could've been, and the one that has the Holbrook hot seat heating up even more.
This timeline is just a glimpse at what went wrong throughout the season, with some blown leads and blowouts along the way.
Feb. 19 vs. UNC Greensboro — Hill's gem spoiled
Losing one of three in the opening series isn't the end of the world, but getting shut out by the Sunday starter from a satellite campus is concerning, even in February. Adam Hill pitched the best game of his career, giving up just one hit, but allowing a run due to a walk, a stolen base, a passed ball and an RBI groundout. South Carolina outhit UNCG 4-1, but couldn't plate a run.
March 4-5 vs. Clemson — Gamecocks lose Palmetto Series, Johnson
After winning Friday night's opener at Clemson, South Carolina was in position to beat its biggest rival in the series for the first time since 2014. But the highly-praised bullpen allowed three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at five before Reed Scott coughed up three in the ninth on the way to an 8-7 loss.
Sunday was even worse for the Gamecocks, who had the Tigers down to their last strike when Josh Reagan gave up a game-tying home run to slugger Seth Beer. South Carolina loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to score before losing in extra innings. The Gamecocks had yet to win a Sunday game and had now lost the series to their in-state rival in three straight seasons.
To make matters worse, closer and star prospect Tyler Johnson left Saturday's game with an elbow injury and would miss about a month.
April 2 at Auburn — Tigers walk off
After sweeping Alabama and Tennessee to kick off SEC play, the Gamecocks were on the verge of starting 8-1 in the conference with a win. Leading 5-3 in the ninth inning of the rubber match, Reagan allowed back-to-back singles before bearing down to get two outs. Then, the series was lost in a flash, as pinch hitter Conor Davis cranked one over the left field wall to hand South Carolina a 6-5 loss.
The Gamecocks were 7-2 in conference play. Everything was still cool at this point.
April 11 vs. North Carolina — Heels beat down Gamecocks . . . again
Going into the midweek rivalry game in Charlotte, Gamecock fans figured it couldn't be worse than the debacle of a matchup in 2016, when South Carolina pitchers issued 10 walks en route to a 15-0 loss. The Gamecocks scored in the 2017 edition, but the result was just as embarrassing, as it took 10 pitchers to get through just eight innings of a 20-5 loss.
After yet another neutral site loss, which followed a series loss to Vanderbilt, the attitude in Columbia started to shift.
April 22 at Florida — Another close one gets away
Yet again, the Gamecocks hold a lead on Sunday, and it slips away. Colie Bowers came in during the eighth inning with a 5-3 lead and runners at first and second and no outs before loading the bases with a walk. Bowers then gave up a grand slam to J.J. Schwarz, and South Carolina loses 7-5, missing out on another opportunity for a marquee series win for the resume.
The Gamecocks are now 4-9 in conference games decided by two runs or fewer and haven't won an SEC series in a month. Panic is starting to ensue.
April 25 — Schmidt done for the year
You may have noticed that none of these games have fallen apart on Fridays. Schmidt had to leave his start against Florida with elbow pain that wasn't believed to be serious. Five days later, it was announced that the junior had torn his UCL and needed Tommy John surgery. If the panic button hadn't been pushed, it was pushed on April 25.
April 28 vs. Kentucky — Gamecocks embarrassed again
On the first Friday without Schmidt, South Carolina gets outhit 20-7 in a 19-1 loss to Kentucky. This one didn't exactly slip away, but even more people joined the #FireHolbrook train during those nine innings, before South Carolina went on to lose the series on Sunday.
May 7 at LSU — South Carolina blows two late leads, loses in 10
After winning on Friday night and losing Saturday, the Gamecocks desperately needed a win to stay in the hunt for the postseason. Leading 5-4 in the eighth, LSU scored with two outs when Zach Watson was ruled safe at first base as Matt Williams had pulled his foot off the bag. South Carolina took the lead again in the ninth, but Tyler Johnson hit a batter and surrendered a pair of hits to let the Tigers tie the game again. Williams was thrown out trying to score from first on a double in the 10th before LSU walked off to take the series.
May 14 at Missouri — Bullpen blows another lead, series
The story feels the same just about every week at this point. South Carolina led 3-2 in the eighth, looking to break a series losing streak before... Gamecocks lose 5-3, giving them seven straight series losses. Missing the postseason seems imminent.
May 19 vs. Georgia — Rally falls short, 'Dogs clinch series
Trailing 5-2 in the ninth, USC ripped off four straight hits, and all of a sudden, Alex Destino was 90 feet away, representing the tying run. John Jones walked, but Justin Row flew out to end the game, and the Gamecocks' hope of winning their first series in two months.
Even with a nice (unprecedented) run in Hoover, the Gamecocks found themselves on the outside looking in, where they should be.
But hey, we got through that whole thing without talking about a bunt.