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Wildcats Dethrone South Carolina…

Arizona celebrates the program's first national title since 1986 (Photo Pete LaFleur)

OMAHA, Neb. (6/25/12) – For the first time during its 13-day stay in Omaha, the Arizona baseball team started a pitcher other than Kurt Heyer or Konner Wade … but the result was the same: another dominating performance on the mound and another win, for a Wildcats team that breezed through the 2012 NCAAs without a loss (10-0). Sophomore righthander James Farris – making his first appearance in 22 days – logged 7.2 strong innings while his teammates rallied to score three times in the top of the 9th, as Arizona beat two-time defending champion South Carolina, 4-1, to claim the school’s fourth NCAA baseball title on Monday night at TD Ameritrade Park.  front-page photo by CB360’s Pete LaFleur

CLICK HERE for CB360’s postgame video page from Monday’s final game at the 2012 College World Series.

2012 CWS All-Tournament Team

Catcher – Riley Moore, Arizona

1B – Christian Walker, South Carolina

2B – Devon Travis, Florida State

3B – Sherman Johnson, Florida State

SS – Alex Mejia, Arizona

OF – Evan Marzilli, South Carolina

OF – Joey Rickard, Arizona

OF – Robert Refsnyder, Arizona

DH – Bobby Brown, Arizona

P – Michael Roth, South Carolina

P – Konner Wade, Arzona

Most Outstanding Player

Robert Refsnyder, Arizona

Final Stats: HTML & PDF  |  Postgame Notes 
AP Recap  |  AZ Recap  |  SC Recap (w/ video)
Press Conference Transcripts – AZ … SC
Video Highlights  |  Photos (AP/AZ)  |  Photos (AP/SC)
CWS Stats (teams & top individuals)
Final 2012 Season Stats: AZ  |  SC
Arizona 2012 Postseason Stats: CWS  |  NCAAs
NCAA.com Features: Andy Lopez  |  Finals Gm-2 Preview

(check back to this page later for complete recap, along with CB360’s assortment of postgame video for both teams, game photos, etc.)

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As in the past few days, CollegeBaseball360 provides extensive video postgame interviews – links being added below from Sunday night’s Arizona win over South Carolina (in the opener of the CWS best-of-3 title series). front-page photo of Konner Wade & Andy Lopez by CB360’s Pete LaFleur

CLICK HERE for the CB360 game recap from Arizona’s 5-1win over South Carolina.

Arizona formal postgame press conference

Arizona so. RHP Konner Wade

Arizona jr. RF Robert Refsnyder

Arizona jr. SS Alex Mejia

South Carolina formal postgame press conference

South Carolina catcher Grayson Greiner

South Carolina CF Evan Marzilli

South Carolina coach Ray Tanner

Konner Wade (photo by CB360's Pete LaFleur)

OMAHA, Neb. (6/24/12) – Sophomore righthander Konner Wade went the distance yet again while junior rightfielder Robert Refsnyder showcased his skill-set all over the field, as the University of Arizona baseball team crept closer to the NCAA championship with Sunday night’s 5-1 win over two-time defending national champion South Carolina. Arizona (47-17) – riding a 10-game winning streak that includes a 92-34 scoring margin in nine NCAA Tournament games – now can win the title with another victory over the Gamecocks, either Monday night (7 CT) back at TD Ameritrade Park or on Tuesday if South Carolina  (49-19) extends the best-of-3 series.

CLICK HERE for CB360’s assortment of postgame video for both teams

Final Stats: HTML & PDF  |  Postgame Notes
Press Conference Transcripts – AZ … SC
Video Highlights  |  Photos (AP)

Wade followed up his shutout of Pac-12 rival UCLA one week earlier by fashioning another strong complete-game effort, at one point seeing his College World Series shutout streak extend to 14.2 innings before South Carolina pushed across its lone run, in the top of the 6th. The surging sophomore faced only 33 batters over the full nine innings, allowing six hits and a walk to go along with three strikeouts in the 110-pitch outing.

Wade’s regular season was nothing to write home about (4.88 ERA, 7-3 record, 34 walks and .246 opponent batting) – but the Wildcats #2 starter has flipped the switch during the NCAA Tournament. After rattling off postseason victories over Louisville, St. John’s, UCLA and now South Carolina, Wade has compiled a 1.29 ERA during those four NCAA Tournament starts. He has eight more innings pitched (35) than hits allowed (27) during the NCAAs and has issued only three walks over the past month, for a nine-inning average of 0.77 walks per 9 innings during the NCAAs (compared to 3.02 BB/9 IP during the regular season). Opponents are batting only .209 vs. Wade in the NCAAs, nearly 40 points below his regular-season opp. batting avg.

In his two CWS starts, Wade owns a 0.50 ERA and equally-low 6.00 “WHIP” (1 BB + 11 H / 18 IP), with seven strikeouts, a .175 opp. batting avg. and 201 total pitches spanning the 18 innings. He is the first pitcher since 2005 to throw complete games in consecutive CWS starts (dating back to Fullerton’s Jason Windsor in ’05). Wade’s 6th-inning walk on Sunday ended his streak of 30.2 innings without allowing a base-on-balls. Through three innings on Sunday, Wade had located 76% of his pitches (28-of-37) for strikes and finished at 66% strikes (73-of-110).

If Arizona does go on to win the NCAA title, the tournament MVP likely could be Wade … but Refsnyder’s all-around, high-level contributions also may merit him MVP consideration (should the Wildcats win on Mon. or Tues.). The Arizona cleanup batter is not a “five-tool” player in terms of pro potential, but he certainly brought his tool chest to the ballpark on Sundau while helping his team claim the series-opening win.

Refsnyder already was one of the top hitters for average during this CWS and he took it up another notch on Tuesday, batting 2-for-3 with a pair of walks for a .444 CWS batting avg. (8-for-18) that trails only Florida State’s Devon Travis (.563; 9-16) and teammate Riley Moore (.500; 7-14) among the event’s hitting leaders. Hitting for power? Refsnyder became the first player with multiple home runs at the 2012 CWS in the earlygoing Sunday night, after working ahead vs. righthander Forest Koumas, fouling off the next two pitches and parking the next 2-2 offering into the South Carolina bullpen beyond the rightfield wall for a 2-0 lead (Johnny Field earlier had reached on a 1-out, 1st-pitch single through the left side).

Did we mention that Refsnyder is a righthanded hitter? The momentum-grabbing, opposite-field blast drew high praise in the postgame press conference.

South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner, before answering a different question about Refsnyder, instead diverted his answer to the earlier home run. “How about an opposite-field home run in this park?” Tanner said, in part-question/part-statement. “When he touched that ball off, I said ‘that ball’s been hit hard.’ But I expected it to be maybe off the warning track, one-hop to the fence. But that was impressive.”

“That’s why he’s one of the better players in the country. He’s able to do things like that.”

While reaching base four times, Refsnyder sprinkled in some defensive gems during the late innings. His pair of catches in the top of the 6th included an above-average running catch down the line, helping limit South Carolina’s lone scoring inning to the single run. The Gamecocks were poised for more in the 7th, as it looked like the defending champs were about to have runners on the corners and the potential tying run at the plate (Arizona did not stretch to 5-1 until the bottom of the 7th). With Adam Matthews on first, Kyle Martin had pulled a single into right field. Matthews rounded second and was bidding for third, but Refsnyder had other ideas – firing across the field for the 9-5 putout (tag by 3B Seth Mejias-Brean) and yet another huge momentum play.

Moments later, Refsnyder had singled and was on second with two outs before making his own aggressive move on the basepaths after Bobby Brown‘s single through the right side, showing his speed and baserunning skills to score the game’s final run.

Refsnyder’s stat line for the 2012 CWS now includes reaching base on more than half of his plate appearances (11-of-21, or 52.4%; 8-for-18, with 3 BB) to go along with the pair of home runs, 5 RBI, 5 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases over the course of the four wins in Omaha. He has reached base in 38 consecutive games and now has 18 multiple-RBI games this season.

Bullets followed by notes that you may find interesting … 

• Moore, the Arizona freshman catcher, hit 3-for-4 from the 8-spot on Sunday, boosting his CWS average to .500 (7-for-14) … CF/leadoff batter Joey Rickard (2-for-4 Sunday) is hitting .421 in the NCAAs (16-38) … LF/2-hole Johnny Field scored twice on Sunday and now has 13 runs to go with 13 RBI in the 2012 NCAAs.

• Arizona’s 16 complete games include seven from Kurt Heyer and six by Wade … South Carolina’s lone CG came earlier in the CWS, by Michael Roth vs. Kent State.

• Arizona is bidding to become the first team since Fulllerton’s 1995 squad to receive 7-plus innings from its starter in every game of the CWS (Heyer threw 7.2 and 7.1 in his pair of wins over FSU) … The Arizona starters have logged 7.1 innings or more in every game of the 2012 NCAAs (avg. of nearly 8.2 per start).

• Arizona snapped South Carolina’s streak of holding its opponent to 0-4 runs in 19 consecutive CWS games.

• Refsnyder’s 2-run shot ended South Carolina’s streak of not allowing a home run for 77 straight innings.

• South Carolina 1B/3-hole Christian Walker collected his 27th career CWS hit during Sunday’s game (one shy of tying the record, set by former UNC player Dustin Ackley).

June 23 Vids Include Both Coaches & ESPN’s Jess Mendoza…

South Carolina Pitcher Is Clutch – Again…

Michael Roth has helped South Carolina win all four CWS elimination games in which he has pitched from 2010-2012 (Kirk Markus photo).

Gamer. Unorthodox delivery.  Leader. Lefty.  Competitor. Two-time national champion. Good enough to win in college, but not good enough for the pros.

Sound familiar? It all describes one of the best student-athletes in the history of the SEC. It’ not former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow we’re talking about. It’s South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth.

The senior’s big game legacy got a bit bigger on Thursday in Omaha after his complete game two-hitter willed the Gamecocks to a 4-1 College World Series elimination game win over Kent State. The victory not only allowed his team to survive for at least another game, but also cemented Roth as the best big game pitcher in the history of the CWS.

End of discussion.

It should be the end of the discussion, but when I asked Roth recently if “big game” is a moniker that fits his game he side-stepped the lofty label.

“I just consider myself a pitcher,” he flatly and understatedly responded. “I like pitching in big games, but to me every game’s a big game. That’s the day I’m pitching, so that’s a big game. You can ask any pitcher.”

“If they’re pitching that day that’s a big game for them, because we get it (the ball) once a week. We think every game’s a big game and we just like to go out there and shove it up people’s butt and hopefully we come out on top.”

Shoving it up people’s butt is something South Carolina and Roth have become accustomed to doing in recent years-especially in Omaha. Before falling to Arkansas on Monday, the Gamecocks had rattled-off a record 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament wins and Roth played a major role in that streak.

In the latest chapter in his CWS story Roth retired the final 22 Kent State batters he faced after a second inning RBI single by Sawyer Polen. He also became the first CWS pitcher in 19 years to fire a complete game while giving-up two hits or less.

“Michael’s very humble,” head coach Ray Tanner said after Roth’s complete game win over Kent State. “But since he became a (starting) pitcher he’s been a guy that straps it on for you.  He’s going to give you a great effort, even if it’s not what he thinks is a best effort from him.”

Roth made just two starts (35 relief appearances) as a sophomore in 2010, but they were two of the most important starts in South Carolina history. After pitching an inning of relief in the Gamecock’s CWS-opening loss to Oklahoma and then going 1.1 innings four days later against the Sooners, Roth fired a complete game three-hitter in a 5-1 elimination game victory over Clemson in his first start of the year. He took the ball again three days later, giving his team 5.0 quality innings in the 2-1 national championship game win over UCLA.

Roth has made a record seven CWS starts over the last three seasons.

With their NCAA winning streak growing last year, Roth never faced elimination in Omaha, but his win over Kent State on Thursday moved the Gamecocks to 4-0 in elimination games in which Roth has pitched over the last three seasons.

It’s rather ironic that a guy who was an unknown reliever just two years ago has the only three complete games the South Carolina pitching staff has had since that 2010 CWS victory over Clemson – which of course also happens to be his school’s biggest rival.

“I just made the most of an opportunity,” Roth said of getting the call against the hated Tigers two years ago at Rosenblatt Stadium. “I’m grateful that coach Tanner and the other coaches were willing to give me that opportunity. I was just able to seize it and take advantage of it.”

Roth seized the momentum of that first big opportunity and came out of the bullpen to become a starter as a junior in 2011. He wasn’t just any starter though. He was a Friday starter – in the SEC.

He was 14-3 last year with a 1.06 ERA while being named a consensus All-American, and for the second year in a row he toed the rubber for South Carolina in the national championship game. Major League scouts thought so highly of Roth and his ability to mow down SEC hitters that he waited until the 31^st round of the 2011 draft to be selected by the Cleveland Indians.

Instead of signing for pennies and bouncing on buses from Ohio to Iowa, Roth chose a different path last summer. He packed his bags and headed for Spain for three months after that national title clinching win over Florida in Omaha.

Like his pitching delivery, the trip was unorthodox for a college baseball player on an elite college baseball team, but it wasn’t for someone like Roth. He was recently named the SEC’s 2012 Boyd McWhorter Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

No summer ball. No early morning workouts. Just books and beaches for three month while studying Spanish. Roth, who pitched a total of 60.0 innings during South Carolina’s 22-game NCAA streak, is now 9-1 in his final college baseball season after his win over the Golden Flashes in his latest big game effort.

He also moved up slightly in this year’s draft, going in the ninth round to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

“It’s a dream really to always play professional baseball,” Roth said of the opportunity he will soon get to ride those minor league buses. “We’ll see what it holds. I just intend to go out there and hopefully learn a lot of stuff and hopefully be successful.”

What Roth has done though over the last two-plus seasons epitomizes what Tanner’s Gamecocks have come to stand for – team. The names in the South Carolina lineup have changed drastically since that first championship two years ago. Roth and just three position players are the only four remaining players who started against UCLA in that 2010 title game.

“Maybe we’re not all first rounders or anything like that, but we’re a team,” Roth said recently of this group of Gamecocks that is still vying to win a third straight national crown. “To me that’s the most important thing.”

“We just like playing baseball. We’re just a group of guys that like to come out every day and have fun on the baseball field. We don’t take it too seriously or ourselves too seriously and that helps us be successful.”

The lefty now has his name littered on the College World Series record books. His nine career appearances are tied for sixth all-time, his seven career CWS starts are tied with former Miami pitcher J.D. Arteaga for the most in CWS history and his 9.0 innings against the Golden Flashes gives him a record 53.2 career inning pitched at the College World Series.

“Pretty sweet,” Roth said Thursday when asked about the career innings record.

And pretty big.

Post Kent State video with Roth

Gamecocks Look To Continue Historic Run …

South Carolina Info. – SC CWS Central  |  CWS Notes  |  Season Stats  |  Roster  |   Media Guide  |  Head Coach Ray Tanner

CWS/NCAA Interactive Bracket … CWS Printable Bracket … NCAA 64-Team Printable Bracket

Led by ace Michael Roth (front) South Carolina looks to become just the second to ever win three straight CWS championships.

ROAD TO OMAHA

The Gamecocks are back in town. After winning the program’s first national championship in the last College World Series played at Rosenblatt Stadium followed by a repeat title in the first CWS at TD Ameritrade Park, South Carolina is back in Omaha for a chance to make history.

Ray Tanner’s squad has a chance to become just the second college baseball program to ever win three straight national championships. The only other team to accomplish the feat is Rod Dedeaux’s University of Southern California Trojans.

South Carolina comes into its third straight CWS riding a 21-game NCAA Tournament winning streak. Their last such loss came on June 20, 2010 when they dropped a 3-2 decision to Oklahoma in their College World Series opener. They ripped-off six straight wins after that though to claim their first national title and they haven’t lost an NCAA game since.

The last two wins in the 21-game streak came last weekend in the Columbia Super Regional against those same Oklahoma Sooners. Tanners team opens this year’ CWS against an all too familiar face – SEC rival Florida. The same Florida team that the Gamecocks beat to close last year’s CWS Finals.

The Constants

Probably the most impressive thing about South Carolina’s return to Omaha for a chance at a third straight championship is the roster turnover the team has undergone since 2010. Of the nine position players (DH included) who started for the Gamecocks against UCLA in the title clinching Rosenblatt finale only three players – Christian Walker, Evan Marzilli and Adam Matthews – were in the starting lineup in Monday’s Super Regional clincher against OU.

Marzilli started in leftfield in that championship game but is now in centerfield. Matthews has moved from DH to rightfield, while Walker remains a fixture at first base.

Gone are the likes of Jackie Bradley, Jr., Whit Merrifield, Adrian Morales, and Scott Wingo. All of which played prominent roles in the first two championships.

The only other South Carolina player to start that night was starting pitcher Michael Roth. Now a senior, Roth went from bullpen afterthought to CWS starting pitcher and hero in the span of less than two weeks in 2010. He has been his team’s Friday starter for the last two years though and joins Walker, Marzilli and Matthews as the handfuls of constants Tanner has had during the program’s golden run.

Roth “E”RA

Roth has been South Carolina’s Friday starter for the last two seasons, but he made his name in Omaha before he ever sniffed the mound as a starter in the SEC.

He made just two starts (35 relief appearances) as a sophomore in 2010, but they were two of the most important starts in South Carolina history. After pitching an inning of relief in the Gamecock’s CWS loss to Oklahoma and then going 1 1/3 four days later against the Sooners, Roth fired a complete game three-hitter in a 5-1 elimination game victory over Clemson in his first start. He took the ball again three days later, giving his team 5.0 quality innings in the 2-1 national championship win over UCLA.

Roth was the starting pitcher again last season, earning his 14^th victory of the season, in the national championship game as South Carolina beat Florida 5-2 to claim its second straight crown.

During Carolina’s current 21-game NCAA winning streak Ross has a miniscule 0.84 ERA in 53 2/3 IP. He is 21-4 with a 1.35 ERA during his last two seasons as a starter, but the lefty was just a ninth round selection of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the MLB Draft last week.

Roth would probably prefer to have been an earlier round pick this year or last, but for now he can settle for being a great college pitcher on a great college baseball team.

The Ups And The Downs

With the youngest team he’s had in recent years, Tanner didn’t have the most challenging non-conference schedule in the nation to begin the season. The Gamecocks played the likes of VMI, Elon and Princeton and jumped out to a 15-1 record through mid March. The lone loss was to arch rival Clemson in the finale of a three games in three days series.

Things changed quickly once SEC plan began.

The Gamecocks ran into a buzz saw in Lexington, dropping all three games of their SEC-opening series to a Kentucky team that was 21-0 when the dust had cleared. South Carolina returned home the following weekend for the highly anticipated rematch of the 2011 CWS Finals with Florida. The result was a 2-1 series win for the Gators and a 1-5 start to conference play for the Gamecocks.

The tide turned after that though, as South Carolina won 17 of its next 23 SEC games to finish 18-11 in conference action and edge Florida for the SEC’s Eastern Division crown.

They’re HERE!!  The Dugout in Omaha has official College World Series gear for each of the eight teams, including Kent State. If you want to be the first kid (no matter what age) on your block to have this year’s official CWS shirts, hats and more (both for individual teams or generic) click the red link and get to The Dugout’s web site!

If you’re going to Omaha for the CWS you can also visit The Dugout. It’s right across the street from the home plate entrance to TD Ameritrade Park.

Projected Lineup

*Denotes team category leader

1. (RH) Joey Pankake SS – 6-0/195 … Fr. … Easley, SC … #9  (SEC All-Freshman Team)
… .286, 26 RBI, 41 Runs, 2 HR, 3 Triples, 15 Doubles, 30 BB, 4 HBP, 37 K, 3-7 SB

2. (LH) Evan Marzilli CF – 5-11/180 … Jr. … Cranston, RI .. .#31
… .288, 30 RBI, 50 Runs*, 2 HR, 3 Triples, 12 Doubles, 27 BB, 9 HBP, 51 K, 12-16 SB*
… SEC All-Defensive Team (2 E, .988 fielding pct.)
… 8th-round MLB draft selection (Arizona)

3. (RH) Christian Walker 1B – 6-0/220 … Jr. … Limerick, PA … #13  (1st Team All-SEC)
… .315, 54 RBI*, 44 Runs, 11 HR*, 2 Triples, 11 Doubles, .534 slug. %, .440 OB%, 43 BB, 8 HBP, 23 K, 2-3 SB
… 4th-round MLB draft selection (Baltimore)

4. (RH) Adam Matthews RF – 6-1/195 … Sr. … Lexington, SC … #26
… .240, 25 RBI, 28 runs, 5 HR, 5 Doubles, 9 Sac Bunts*, 21 BB, 3 HBP, 40 K, 7-10 SB
… 29th-round MLB draft selection (Cincinnati)

5. DH – (RH) Erik Payne/(RH) Connor Bright/(RH) Sean Sullivan/(LH) Kyle Martin
(Through five NCAA games this season, SC has used four different DHs)

6. (LH) L.B. Dantzler 3B – 5-11/205 … Jr. … Winter Haven, FL … #20
… .264, 45 RBI, 34 Runs, 9 HR, 13 Doubles, .431 Slg %, 25 BB, 2 HBP, 34 K, 0-2 SB

7. (RH) Tanner English LF – 5-7/160 … Fr. … Murrells inlet, SC … #3  (SEC All-Freshman Team)
… .306, 22 RBI, 41 Runs, 9 Sac Bunts*, 13 BB, 3 HBP, 62 K, 9-12 SB

8. (LH) Chase Vergason 2B – 6-0/180 … Jr. … Orlando, FL … #16
… .262, 10 RBI, 15 Runs, HR, 8 Doubles, 21 BB, 8 HBP, 15 K, 1-2 SB

9. (RH) Dante Rosenberg C** – 5-10/175 … Jr. … Coral Springs, FL … #18
… .212, 7 RBI, 7 Runs (20 starts), 3 Doubles, 5 BB, HBP, 12 K

** Note – Freshman catcher Grayson Greiner, one of three SC players named to SEC All-Freshman Team, started 48 games before tearing the lateral meniscus in his left knee on May 30 at the SEC Tournament. He has undergone surgery and was cleared to play in last week’s Super Regional, but he did not see action. Greiner recently was named a Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball magazine.

Starting Rotation

LHP Michael Roth – 6-1/210 … Sr. …  Greer, SC … #29
… (7-1) 2.50 ERA, 115 IP *, 79 K, 37 BB, .215 ppp. BA (nearly 7.0 innings/start)
… First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American (3.83 cum. GPA, int’l business & marketing major)
… SEC All-Defensive Team
… 9th-round MLB draft selection (Angels)

RHP Colby Holmes – 5-11/200 … Jr. … Conway, SC … #44
… (7-1) 2.80 ERA, 74 IP, 61 K, 15 BB, .218 opp. BA

LHP Jordan Montgomery – 6-3/215 … Fr. … Sumter, SC … #34
… (5-1) 4.05 ERA, 66 2/3 IP, 51 K, 9 BB, .259 opp. BA
… Freshman All-American (Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball magazine)

Bullpen

RHP Matt Price – 6-2/215 … Jr. … Sumter, SC … #22  (2nd Team All-SEC)
(4-4) 3.47 ERA, 24 App, 5 Starts, 11 SV*, 70 IP, 82 K*, 29 BB, .197 opp. BA
… 7th-round MLB draft selection (Baltimore)

LHP Tyler Webb – 6-6/225 … Jr. … Nassawdox, VA … #38
(6-1) 1.91 ERA, 35 App.*, 3 SV, 47 IP, 50 K, 14 BB, .223 opp. BA

“I’m kind of at a loss for words. To be able to get a chance to continue to play after the way we started…you start reflecting throughout the season. As I told the guys in the huddle at the end, it didn’t start like we wanted, but we played. The team stayed the course and was resilient.” – South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner after clinching a third straight CWS appearance.

COLUMBIA Super Regional … SC Regional Central
… Pre-SR Press Conferences: Oklahoma & South Carolina
• Gm-1 (Sat.): at national 8-seed South Carolina 5-8-1 … def. Oklahoma 0-6-1
… Final Stats: HTML & PDF  |  AP Recap  |  SC Recap (w/ video)  |  OU Recap  |  Notes  |  Quotes
Photos (AP)  |  Photos (SC)  |  Photos (OU)
Video Highlights  |  SC Postgame Video  |  OU Postgame Video
• Gm-2 (Sun.): Oklahoma (H) at (8) South Carolina – suspended, 0-0 (b6)
• Gm-2 (Mon.): at (8) South Carolina 5-8-2 … def. Oklahoma (H) 1-3-1  (resume from Fri.)
… Final Stats: HTML & PDF  |  AP Recap  |  SC Recap (w/ video)  |  OU Recap  |  Notes  |  Quotes
Photos (AP)  |  Photos (SC)  |  Photos (OU)
Video Highlights  |  SC Postgame Video  |  OU Postgame Video 

2012 CWS Bracket Two

33 Home Games Slated For Defending Champions…

South Carolina has released its 2012 college baseball schedule. The two-time defending national champions open their season by playing seven straight and 14 of their first 16 games at home.

The season starts Feb. 17-19 with a three game series against VMI. Elon visits for three games the second weekend of the season, and Presbyterian travels to Columbia for a mid week game on Feb. 28.

The Gamecocks play a three game series vs. arch rival Clemson March 2-6. The three games will be played in three different cities. The first game is in neutral site Charleston, SC, South Carolina hosts game two and the series finale is at Clemson.

A three game series vs. Princeton March 9-11 comprises the bulk of a six game homestand from March 7-14.

SEC play begins March 16-18 with a trip to Kentucky. Other conference road series are at Vanderbilt, Auburn, Arkansas, and Georgia. Conference home series are against Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Alabama, and LSU. The Gamecocks do not face SEC rival Ole Miss in 2012.

A Look At The Teams Bound For Omaha…

CLICK HERE to see the daily schedule of games and TV assignments. The 2011 College World Series starts on Saturday, June 18.

If you can’t make it to Omaha, be sure to visit Dugouthats.com to find the biggest selection of 2011 CWS apparel. Enter the coupon code CB360 to save 20% on your order! If you are going to the CWS, the new Dugout is easy to find – it’s right across the street from TD Ameritrade Park’s home plate entrance!!

California Golden Bears

David Esquer

Head Coach:  David Esquer

Cal is probably the darling of all darlings to play in the College World Series. Esquer’s journey to Omaha with his Golden Bears was a movie script waiting to happen. From a program whose elimination was announced back on Sept. 28 to earning a CWS berth on June 12 … what more can be said?

The Golden Bears, a No. 3 regional seed in Houston (hosted by No. 8 national seed Rice) have won six straight postseason games to earn a trip to Omaha for the first time since 1992. The previous time Cal won six consecutive postseason games was 1957 – the year the program earned its second (and to this point last) national championship.

While Esquer is taking a team to the CWS for the first time, he is no stranger to Omaha. He played for now rival head coach Mark Marquess‘ 1987 Stanford national championship team. Esquer’s seven career postseason wins are tied for the second-most in Cal history. Hall of Fame coach Bob Milano tops that list with 20 victories.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Tony Renda – .335
RBIs: Chadd Krist – 43
HR: Chad Bunting – 7
Sac Bunts: Marcus Semien – 16
Slg%: Chad Bunting – .509
OBP: Vince Bruno – .394
Runs: Marcus Semien – 39
Wins: Justin Jones (9-6)
ERA: (Releiver) Kyle Porter – 1.59 … (Starter) Erik Johnson – 2.91
Saves: Matt Flemer – 5
Strikeouts: Erik Johnson – 100

Florida Gators

Kevin O'Sullivan

Head Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan

This is Florida’s second straight and seventh overall trip to the CWS. It marks the first time the Gators have ever gone to Omaha in consecutive seasons. Florida’s win over Mississippi State in game three of the Super Regional was the first-ever for the program in “if necessary” NCAA games. The Gators had lost their previous five such games.

Florida hit five home runs in its deciding game against MSU to give it 67 long balls this season. The Gators are the No. 2 national seed and face Texas in their 2011 CWS opener.

In addition to leading the Gators to back-to-back CWS appearances, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan was an assistant on Clemson’s 2000 and 2002 Omaha teams. Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin was an assistant for those two teams as well.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Mike Zunino –.376
RBIs: Preston Tucker – 68
HR: Mike Zunino – 18
Sac Bunts: Josh Adams – 11
Slg%: Mike Zunino – .686
OBP: Mike Zunino – .444
Runs: Mike Zunino – 72
Wins: Hudson Randall (10-3)
ERA: (Reliever) Keenan Kish – 0.63 (Starter) … Hudson Randall – 2.29
Saves: Austin Maddox – 5
Strikeouts: Karsten Whitson – 83

North Carolina Tar Heels

Mike Fox

Head Coach: Mike Fox

This is North Carolina’s ninth overall and fifth trip to Omaha in the past six seasons. After going to the CWS four straight times from 2006-2009, UNC bowed out of the 2010 NCAA Tournament in the regional round when they were eliminated by Omaha-bound Oklahoma (interestingly, Cal was at that regional as well).

Head coach Mike Fox also played for UNC’s 1978 College World Series team.

The Tar Heels’ two Super Regional wins over Stanford gives them 37 NCAA Tournament wins since 2006 – the most of any team in the country in that span. They also are 23-1 in NCAA home games in that stretch – including 16 straight such wins.

North Carolina has trailed in only four of 45 innings they have played so far in this year’s tournament. The No. 3 national seed has won five straight and 10 of its past 12 games overall, heading into the CWS.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Coin Moran – .335
RBIs: Colin Moran – 69
HR: Colin Moran – 9
Sac Bunts: Tommy Coyle & Ben Bunting – 6
Slg%: Colin Moran – .551
OBP: Levi Michael – .446
Runs: Tommy Coyle – 57
Wins: Patrick Johnson (13-1)
ERA: (Reliever) Tate Parrish – 2.35 … (Starter) Patrick Johnson – 2.27
Saves: Michael Morin – 10
Strikeouts: Patrick Johnson – 120

South Carolina Gamecocks

Ray Tanner

Head Coach: Ray Tanner

South Carolina is in the College World Series for the second straight year and the 10th time overall. Half of those CWS appearances have come under head coach Ray Tanner. The Gamecocks are the first defending national champion to get back to Omaha the next year since 2006 champion Oregon State returned (and won again) in 2007. The Gamecocks are 16-1 in their past 17 NCAA Tournament games. They have won 11 straight NCAA Tournament games, since falling to Oklahoma in their 2010 CWS opener.

The Gamecocks are flat-out dominant at home in NCAA Tournament games. They now are 8-0 all-time at Carolina Stadium, with 19 straight postseason home wins, which dates back to 2002. South Carolina is the No. 4 national seed.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Christian Walker – .359
RBIs: Christian Walker – 60
HR: Christian Walker – 10
Sac Bunts: Peter Mooney – 12
Slg%: Christian Walker – .560
OBP: Scott Wingo – .466
Runs: Christian Walker – 60
Wins: Michael Roth (13-2)
ERA: (Reliever) John Taylor – 1.27 … (Starter) Michael Roth – 1.02
Saves: Matt Price – 18
Strikeouts: Michael Roth – 95

Texas Longhorns

Augie Garrido

Head Coach: Augie Garrido

This marks the 34th trip to the College World Series for Texas. In fact, the Longhorns (current #7 national seed) have advanced to Omaha in eight consecutive decades. This is the fifth decade in which Augie Garrido has led a team to the CWS (70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and now 10s). He already is the only coach to win national championships in four different decades (1979, 1984, 1995, 2002, ’05).

Garrido’s connection to the College World Series dates back to his playing days on the 1959 Fresno State CWS squad. His 1975 Cal State Fullerton team reached Omaha in its first season as a DI team. He won three national titles with the Titans and has two under his belt on the Forty Acres.

Texas now is 149-62-1 all-time in NCAA Regional and Super Regional play, including 15-6 in eight Super Regional appearances.

Longhorn ace Taylor Jungmann‘s only two losses this season have come in the past two weeks against Kent State and Arizona State, in NCAA games.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Erich Weiss – .358
RBIs: Erich Weiss – 44
HR: Tant Sheppard – 5
Sac Bunts: Mark Payton – 19
Slg%: Erich Weiss – .532
OBP: Erich Weiis – .492
Runs: Tant Sheppard – 53
Wins: Taylor Jungmann (13-2)
ERA: Corey Knebel – 1.15
Saves: Corey Knebel – 19
Strikeouts: Taylor Jungmann – 123

Texas A&M Aggies

Rob Childress

Head Coach: Rob Childress

Texas A&M is in the College World Series for the fifth time in the 108-year history of the program and for the first time since 1999. While the Aggies had nott been to Omaha in more than a decade, their head coach is no stranger there. Sixth-year skipper Rob Childress was an assistant coach on Nebraska’s 2001, 2002 and ’05 CWS teams.

The Aggies missed out on a national seed despite winning their second straight Big 12 Tournament, but they upended No. 5 seed Florida State in Tallahassee to win their Super Regional. Last year’s closer-turned-starter John Stilson is out with a torn labrum, but part-time reliever/starter Ross Stripling (14-2, 4 CG, 4 SVs) has stepped up.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Tyler Naquin – .390
RBIs: Matt Juengel & Jacob House – 49
HR: Matt Juengel – 7
Sac Bunts: Krey Bratsen – 18
Slg%: Tyler Naquin – .556
OBP: Tyler Naquin – .460
Runs: Tyler Naquin – 65
Wins: Ross Stripling (14-2)
ERA: (Reliever) Nick Fleece – 1.48 (Starter) … John Stilson – 1.68 (injured)
Saves: Joaquin Hinojosa – 8
Strikeouts: Michael Wacha – 110

Vanderbilt Commodores

Tim Corbin

Head Coach: Tim Corbin

While the other seven teams in this year’s field have been to the College World Series previously, Vanderbilt is making the program’s first trip to Omaha. In fact, the Commodores hadn’t even been to the NCAA Tournament in 24 years prior to head coach Tim Corbin‘s arrvial in 2003. The program has totaled 10 NCAA Tourney berths all-time, including six straight under Corbin. This year marked Vandy’s third Super Regional appearance and the first time to host that round. As an assistant at Clemson, Corbin helped Jack Leggett‘s Tigers reach the CWS four times. He and Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan were on the staff together for Omaha trips in 2000 and ’02.

The Commodores have, arguably, the top 1-2 punch in this year’s CWS field when it comes to pitching rotation. Sonny Gray (12-3) was the 18th overall pick (Oakland) in in the 2011 MLB Draft, while Grayson Garvin (13-1) was selected 41 picks later to Tampa Bay.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Jason Esposito – .357
RBIs: Jason Esposito – 59
HR: Aaron Westlake – 17
Sac Bunts: Riley Reynolds – 13
Slg%: Aaron Westlake – .651
OBP: Aaron Westlake – .474
Runs: Anthony Gomez – 61
Wins: Grayson Garvin (13-1)
ERA: (Reliever) Navery – 1.21 … (Starter) Sonny Gray – 1.97
Saves: Navery Moore – 11
Strikeouts: Sonny Gray – 119

Virginia Cavaliers

Brian O'Connor

Head Coach: Brian O’Connor

Virginia is back in the College World Series for the second time in school history. Both of those appearances have come in the past three years. While the Cavs’ history in Omaha is short, their head coach’s connection with the city and its biggest event is legendarily long. Brian O’Connor grew up just across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He and his father attended the CWS throughout his childhood and the younger O’Connor played in the 1991 CWS for hometown Creighton (he pitched vs. Wichita State, in what most consider to be one of the greatest CWS games ever). O’Connor was an assistant coach on Notre Dame’s 2002 CWS team and he now has led Virginia to Omaha in 2009 and this year. And, yes, his face is one of the players on the famouse Road To Omaha statue outside TD Ameritrade Stadium.

Virginia is the No. 1 national seed.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: David Coleman – .366
RBIs: Steven Proscia – 58
HR: Steven Proscia – 8
Sac Bunts: Keith Werman – 24
Slg%: John Hicks – .510
OBP: David Coleman & Kenny Swab – .426
Runs: Chris Taylor – 60
Wins: Danny Hultzen (12-3)
ERA: (Reliever) Kyle Crockett – 1.73 … (Starter) Danny Hultzen – 1.49
Saves: Branden Kline – 17
Strikeouts: Danny Hultzen – 151

If you can’t make it to Omaha, be sure to visit Dugouthats.com to find the biggest selection of 2011 CWS apparel. Enter the coupon code CB360 to save 20% on your order!

A member of the 2010 national champion South Carolina baseball team has been kicked-off the 2011 squad. Gamecocks head coach Ray Tanner announced Tuesday that sophomore Ethan Carter has been dismissed for a violation of team rules.

Ethan Carter

Carter made 24 relief appearances for USC as a true freshman. He was 3-0 with two saves and a 5.46 ERA in 28.0 IP for the national champions.

The 6’5 righthander was expected to vie for a spot in South Carolina’s starting rotation this season. He was the 20o9 Gatorade Virginia High School Baseball Player of the Year.

He told The State Newspaper in Columbia “It’s extremely disappointing, and I’m going to miss my teammates,” Carter said. “I know I let them down with my violation of team rules, but I’ve got to take it in stride. Whenever one door closes, another one opens. I just have to try to make the best of the situation.”

Carter is expected to transfer to a junior college.

South Carolina has released its 2011 college baseball schedule. The reigning national champions will begin the defense of their championship with 21 straight games in the Palmetto State, including 18 of those first 21 games on their home field at Carolina Stadium.

The season opens February 18-21 when the Gamecocks host a three-game series against Santa Clara. A three-game series against Southern Illinois comes the following weekend.

CLICK HERE to see the complete 2011 South Carolina baseball schedule.

After a March 1 home game against Furman, USC plays three games in three days against intrastate rival Clemson in three different cities. South Carolina hosts game one in Columbia, SC on March 4. The action shifts to Greenville, SC and Fluor Field for game two the next day and Clemson hosts the finale on March 6. The Gamecocks beat the Tigers twice at the 2010 College World Series to advance to the CWS finals and end Clemson’s season.

South Carolina opens SEC play March 18-20 when it hosts Georgia. Other conference home series are against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Arkansas.

The Gamecocks make their first trip outside their home state March 25-27 when they play their first SEC road series at Florida. Like South Carolina, the Gators advanced to Omaha in 2010. Other conference road series are at Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama.

The SEC Baseball Tournament is May 25-29 in Hoover, AL.

The place to find authentic South Carolina baseball caps is Dugouthats.com. The Dugout has 16 different Gamecock caps to choose from. You can also still find plenty of officially licensed 2010 College World Series memorabilia and apparel to commemorate South Carolina’s 2010 national championship in the last CWS ever played at historic Rosenblatt Stadium.

Just click on any of the red links to find the best selection, including South Carolina Under Armour national championship shirts, at Dugouthats.com!