SEC Baseball

Mizzou eliminates Gamecocks

Missouri’s Ryan Howard (8) throws to first base during the ninth inning of the Southeastern Conference college baseball tournament against South Carolina at the Hoover Met, Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Reggie McClain threw seven impressive innings to lead Missouri past South Carolina 5-1 on Tuesday in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

The seventh-seeded Tigers (30-26) face No. 2 Vanderbilt on Wednesday when the tournament moves to a double-elimination format. South Carolina (32-25) is eliminated and now in serious danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years.

Missouri jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning and had 11 hits on the day. Trey Harris led the Tigers with three hits. McClain (7-7) gave up just one run on six hits while striking out four.

Brecklin Williams threw two scoreless innings of relief for his 13th save.

South Carolina's Jack Wynkoop (8-5) gave up four runs over seven innings. The Gamecocks' Gene Cone had two hits.