Arizona Beats South Carolina 4-1, Wins First National Championship Since 1986

South Carolina made it interesting, but the Wildcats are the national champions for the first time since 1986. It’s the fourth championship for Arizona, who swept South Carolina 2-0 and won all eight games they played in Omaha. The Gamecocks were looking for a three-peat, but Arizona’s pitching was just too good, holding them to only three hits in the deciding game, as the Wildcats won 4-1.

The star of the show was Arizona sophomore Joey Farris, who was wheeling and dealing, two-hitting the potent South Carolina offense through 7.2 innings. Arizona’s bats were quiet through eight, notching only one run off a double, sac bunt and infield groundout, but exploded for three to earn the victory in the ninth inning.

Arizona reliever Matthew Troupe made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, letting Carolina load the bases. Christian Walker tapped one out into left field, and LB Dantzler walked after Troupe got into a full count, putting the tying run at the plate. He got ahead 0-2 on Adam Matthews and unleashed a vicious fastball to get his second strikeout of the evening, but another full-count situation against Kyle Martin saw another walk, and the bases were loaded with the winning run at the plate. Tanner English corked a shot up the middle that almost saw South Carolina plate two, but was snagged on a spectacular catch by Arizona second baseman Trent Gilbert, who almost dove back to the base to double up Dantzler. Carolina left the bases juiced after Grayson Greiner flew out to centerfielder Robert Refsnyder, sparking the on-field celebration.

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.