Arizona counted on some unlikely heroes to go ahead in the top of the ninth inning: Brandon Dixon was 0-for-7 on the College World Series, a defensive substitute whose previous at-bat was a feeble pop-up and whose only major contribution to the game was a botched play on a South Carolina grounder that allowed the Gamecocks to score a run; Trent Gilbert was the No. 9 hitter and only batter in Arizona’s order who hit below .300 on the season. But Dixon’s go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth inning chased out one of the best pitchers in College World Series history, and Gilbert had a base poke into right field to score two more. Those three runs put Arizona three outs from their first national championship since 1986.
2012 College World Series: Arizona Tallies Three In Top Of Ninth, Leads 4-1
Robert Refsnyder popped a single into left field, and although Seth Mejias-Brean looked shaky on two attempts to bunt, his third was picture perfect and advanced Refsnyder to second with one out. That left it up to Dixon. He laced a liner just inside of the third base that went to the outfield, allowing Refsnyder to score and putting runners on second and third. It was only the second run Matt Price -- who had a .36 ERA in the World Series before tonight -- had allowed in the tournament in his career. Tyler Webb came in, but Gilbert floated a liner into right to score two more.
Is South Carolina’s chance for a third-straight championship done? The answer to that question rests on Arizona reliever Matthew Troupe. Troupe, who came on in the bottom of the eighth and struck out the only batter he faced, is on the mound with a chance to be a champion on the line. Considering South Carolina has only two hits on the day, three hits might be impossible.
For more, visit our 2012 College World Series StoryStream. For more on South Carolina, visit Garnet and Black Attack. For Arizona Wildcats coverage, visit Arizona Desert Swarm.
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