South Carolina Vs. Texas A&M, College World Series 2011 Score: Aggies, Gamecocks Each Score Four Runs Early On

After Sunday’s first game of the day, a pitchers’ duel between Cal and Virginia, an offensive, back-and-forth game between South Carolina and Texas A&M is exactly what fans could hope for in the nightcap of the 2011 College World Series. And that’s mostly what was delivered in the first inning alone: a 4-4 tie.

Sloppy defense hurt the Gamecocks early on as Christian Walker failed to field the ball, allowing Tyler Naquin to reach base. South Carolina starter Michael Roth gave up the first run on a Jacob House single. House and Matt Juengel pulled off a double steal, while Roth issued his second walk of the game to load the bases. Left fielder Brandon Wood tripled down the right field line to clear the loaded bases.

But the Gamecocks answered back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Aggies starter Ross Stripling started the inning with a walk and two singles to load the bases. But South Carolina didn’t score its first run on a hit; rather it was a balk by Ross Stripling that put Evan Marzilli across home plate. A throwing error by 2B Andrew Collazo put Adrian Gonzalez on second base and two runs across the plate. A single tied the game at four.

South Carolina CF Jackie Bradley did start in center field, but he actually hit ninth. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat.