2010 College World Series: Oklahoma Beats S. Carolina, 4-3, In Rain-filled Contest

The schedule said that the game would start at 1 pm local time. Mother nature overruled and decided that after 5 pm was better. For five and a half innings, the fans in attendance were treated to some thrilling baseball, but apparently that angered mother nature so a rain delay was in order. Finally, with the rain still coming down, the two teams were able to finish the game. It was long, it was grueling, but for Oklahoma, it was worth it as they took down South Carolina, 4-3.

With the win, Oklahoma moved on to the winner’s bracket in the double elimination format to play the winner of the Arizona St. vs. Clemson game. That game was supposed to follow the Sooners and Gamecocks contest, but the rain pushed the Sun Devils and Tigers back a day. While the Sooners will take on the loser of that game, the Gamecocks will have to play the loser on Tuesday in an elimination game.

Early runs set the tone for the game as each team was able to scratch out single runs in some innings. For the Gamecocks, it was in two innings that they put one spots on the board, but the Sooners bested them by doing that in three frames. With a 3-2 lead going into the rain delay, Oklahoma was sitting pretty, but the finish wasn’t nearly as easy as they would have hoped. In the seventh, the Gamecocks put one in scoring position and in the eighth, they loaded the bases.

A solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning by Garrett Buechele gave the Sooners some breathing room at 4-2, but it still wasn’t easy on Oklahoma.

In the ninth inning, South Carolina loaded up the bases with just one out, but a pop up got the Sooners out number two. That brought South Carolina’s best hitter, Jackie Bradley Jr. to the plate and the Sooners wanted no part of him. Bradley walked on four pitches to force a run in, but it worked out okay for Oklahoma when the next batter flew out to center, ending the game.