College World Series Updates

Finally the game college baseball fans had been waiting to see. The defending College World Series Champions South Carolina Gamecocks versus the 2011 top seeded Virginia Cavaliers. Sure both teams played each other on Tuesday but that game was a runaway by the Gamecocks 7-1, not what fans had been hoping to see. College baseball fans got their fill and then some in an extra inning pitchers duel that sent the Gamecocks to the CWS Championship round for the second straight year as they defeated UV 3-2 in 13 innings. Looking back, both teams will see multiple chances missed and wasted opportunities but neither team gave up.

Virginia jumped out in the second inning on a RBI fielder’s choice hit by CF Kenny Swab to score 3B Steven Proscia. The Gamecocks would answer in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two run double by DH Brady Thomas scoring 1B Christian Walker and CF Jackie Bradley Jr.

In the eighth inning Virginia benefited from 2 South Carolina errors, 3B Adrian Morales allowed Virginia SS Chris Taylor to reach base on a throwing error and SS Peter Mooney committed a fielding error off a John Hicks hit pitch to score the game tying run.

Gamecocks junior LHP Michael Roth, a 2011 Cleveland Indians draft pick, pitched 7 strong innings giving up 1 ER on 4-hits and striking out 3. John Taylor gave up one unearned run in .1 innings of work for South Carolina. The Cavaliers got 3 innings of 1-hit ball from Danny Hultzen, the second pick of the 2011 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners, before being relieved by Kyle Crockett. Crockett gave up 2 ER in 4 innings of work.

Both teams turned to their closers earlier than they had hoped and relied on them for a starter’s type outing in innings worked and pitches thrown. Matt Price threw for 5.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 95 pitches for the Gamecocks while Branden Kline threw 5 innings of shutout ball throwing 107 pitches for the Cavaliers. South Carolina gambled heavily on Matt Price in the 13^th inning which almost cost them the game. Price loaded the bases with no outs then struck out SS Taylor and LF John Barr lined into a double play to get out of the jam.

Cody Winiarski came in to relieve Kline in the bottom of the 13^th inning. Winiarski gave up a leadoff single to DH Brady Thomas (2-6) then the wheels came off for Winiarski. On back to back plays he committed throwing errors, the last allowing pitch runner Adam Matthews to score the winning run on C Robert Beary’s sacrifice bunt. Winiarski faced three batters but did not retire any Gamecock hitters.

South Carolina (53-14) will face the Florida Gators (53-17) in the Championship Round of the College World Series Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST.

CWS Facts

This will be the first all-SEC Championship Game since the 1997 CWS between LSU and Alabama.

Only the PAC 10, 1998 Southern California vs. Arizona State, has had an all conference championship game since 1997.

South Carolina beat the Florida Gators 2 out of 3 times in conference play. They did not play each other during the SEC Tournament.

This is Florida’s second appearance in the NCAA Championship Game.

Florida’s last appearance in the Championship game was in 2005 vs. University of Texas which they lost 4-2 and 6-2.

This is also South Carolina’s second appearance in the Championship Game. South Carolina won the 2010 NCAA College World Series. 

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