Same Gamecocks just a different game.

The South Carolina baseball team added to the school’s history of mishaps and bad luck on Wednesday in the first round of the SEC tournament. Up 4-0 against LSU in the bottom of the ninth, USC displayed another classic meltdown.

In case you were at work and missed it, there were two walks, a three-run home run and a run-scoring error that tied the game — all in the ninth. The Tigers used a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to win it, after USC stranded a runner who reached second base with one out in the top half of the inning.

Wednesday’s disaster couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Gamecocks are now one loss away from being eliminated in the SEC tournament. Although USC expects to be a lock come Monday’s announcement for the NCAA tournament field of 64, the team has nearly played its way out of any consideration for a regional at home.

“I don’t think that we’re a host candidate unless maybe we go on a little roll here throughout the tournament,” USC coach Ray Tanner said before the SEC tourney. “We’d have to win some games and be in a situation where a No. 1 would come here, and we’d be the No. 2.”

That No. 2 chance is quickly fading.

However, this is just the conference tournament, and it really only matters what happens next week. But, baseball is a game of streaks, and USC isn’t playing like a team that can just turn on the hot button whenever it wants. In fact, Tanner is having a hard time finding any positive button to press.

Wednesday, Will Atwood walked two consecutive batters — and then recorded a strikeout —before giving up the home run to Matt Clark that started the rally.

But, there was plenty more blame to pass around after the loss. After the home run and another walk in the ninth, Andrew Crisp had to make a long run on a high fly ball drifting toward the foul line, but it appeared he gave up on the ball. It then fell in front of him as he reached out to try and make the play a bit too late, scoring a run.

The Gamecocks had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth after scoring one run, but a double play kept USC from busting the game wide open.

Tanner now has to rally his players and get their best effort in today’s elimination game against Florida.

At this point in the season, there really isn’t much coaching left for Tanner to do. Sure, he’s going to try and put his team in the best position to win. But, the LSU loss isn’t blame that can go to the coach. The players have to make plays in the postseason.

And if this week’s mistakes carry into next, it won’t matter where the Gamecocks are playing.