Blake Cooper was sensational in yielding just three hits with 10 strikeouts while pitching into the ninth, as South Carolina dominated UCLA in a 7-1 final in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship round at the College World Series.
College World Series: Cooper Tiring In The Ninth For Carolina
Blake Cooper appears to be tiring here in the ninth inning, giving up a hard single and a walk to UCLA with nobody out. Coach Ray Tanner has action in the bullpen backing his starter up, but ideally Cooper can work out of this and spare the pen usage heading into tomorrow’s contest.
Read Article >College World Series: Scott Griggs Relieves Matt Grace For UCLA, Still Trail Carolina 7-0
With a runner on first and one out, Bruins coach John Savage brings in freshman reliever Scott Griggs to face Adrian Morales. Griggs has pitched just seven innings this year. This certainly looks like UCLA is conceeding the game, using the opportunity to bring in a young arm to get some high-level exposure.
Read Article >College World Series: Carolina Increases Lead Over UCLA to 7-0
An RBI single from Whit Merrifield scored Scott Wingo with two outs in the top of the eighth, lengthening the Gamecocks’ lead over the Bruins to 7-0.
Read Article >College World Series: Pitchers Dominate Seventh Inning, South Carolina Leads UCLA 6-0
Both Gerrit Cole of UCLA and Blake Cooper of South Carolina had no troubles zipping through the seventh inning, the bats of both teams suddenly going silent. The Bruins are running out of time, but despite pitching on three days rest, Cooper shows no signs of fatigue. UCLA, meanwhile, brings in southpaw reliever Matt Grace to pitch the eighth. He has a 3.00 ERA in 27 innings on the season.
Read Article >College World Series: UCLA Sticks With Cole in Seventh, Trails Carolina 6-0
Gerrit Cole is back out to begin the seventh inning for UCLA, Coach John Savage calculating that getting another inning out of him will spare the bullpen some work for subsequent games. Blake Cooper of South Carolina, meanwhile, has been cruising along with six shutout innings and eight strikeouts.
Read Article >College World Series: Cole Fans Two, But UCLA Still Trails South Carolina 6-0
Gerrit Cole fanned his first two hitters in the game in the top of the sixth, preventing South Carolina from adding to their 6-0 lead. Bruins coach John Savage now must decide if he should send Cole out for the top of the seventh, or if he should go to the bullpen. His decision may rest on if UCLA can score some runs off Blake Cooper and get the game closer.
Read Article >Jackie Bradley Jr.
I’m increasingly impressed with South Carolina center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr, who seems able to do anything...hit homers, bunt for hits, draw walks, play great defense.
Read Article >Cole vs. Cooper, Contrast in Styles
Gerrit Cole vs. Blake Cooper is an intriguing matchup. Both have been quite successful this year, but their styles are quite different. Cole relies on his power fastball that can hit 94-95 MPH, while Cooper is more of a finesse guy and doesn’t throw as hard. Both have reputations for pitching well under pressure. Cole is working with an extra day of rest.
Read Article >Gamecocks Select Cooper to Start
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner has selected ace right-hander Blake Cooper to start game one. He is 12-2, 2.86 with a 116/38 K/BB ratio in 129 innings on the season. He’s pitching on three days rest; it will be interesting to see how aggressive they are in going to the bullpen if he gets into trouble early.
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