NCAA Baseball Super Regionals 2011: South Carolina Advances To Omaha

Defending national champions South Carolina are making a return trip to Omaha for the College World Series, thanks to their 8-2 win over Connecticut on Sunday afternoon, giving them a 2-0 win for the series. The Huskies jumped out to an early lead and appeared to be well on their way to forcing Game 3, but their bullpen couldn’t hold up against the Gamecocks’ bats as USC rallied late in the game.

South Carolina’s bullpen was perfect after relieving Colby Holmes of his duties in the 5th inning, while UConn’s fell apart after Greg Nappo was taken off the mound. The defending champions scored five runs in the final inning of the game, putting away a tough Huskies team for good.

The South Carolina Gamecocks took care of business on their home field on Saturday afternoon, downing Connecticut in Game 1 of their NCAA Super Regional matchup, 5-1. Michael Roth pitched 8-1/3 innings without allowing an earned run as the Gamecocks rolled to the win. Roth did give up a run in the first inning following a fielding error, but that was all the Huskies could muster.

George Springer drew first blood for UConn, coming around to score on a Mike Nereth singled. Springer had advanced to second on a fielding error after his two-out single in the first. But from there, Roth settled into a groove, and mowed down Connecticut batters along the way as the Huskies struggled to sustain an offense.

There are solid college baseball programs in the northern part of the country, dotted here and there, but it’s a sport mostly confined to the south and west coast, with the northeast and midwest rarely getting in on the action. It’s what makes Connecticut’s development of their program equally surprising and impressive. They will be underdogs against South Carolina in Columbia, but not by much.

South Carolina’s offense is fairly average - especially with Jackie Bradley Jr’s injury - but their pitching is up there with anyone in the country. They have three bonafide starting pitchers in ace Michael Roth, Forrest Koumas and Colby Holmes, along with an elite bullpen. Connecticut are a very good offensive club, but they’re going to have their hands full in this Super Regional.