A pair of Pac-12 teams punched their tickets to Omaha by completing sweeps of their home super regionals on Saturday. First, in Tucson, Arizona used a balanced 12-hit attack in support of Konner Wade (9 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) to beat St. John's 7-4. The Wildcats took control with three runs in the first and never looked back, completing an unbeaten run through regionals and supers to reach the College World Series for the first time since 2004. The Wildcats will face the winner of the Tallahassee Super Regional in their first game in Omaha.
Later, in Los Angeles, UCLA got another strong start from Nick Vander Tuig (6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) and another sparkling relief outing from David Berg (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) to beat Texas Christian, 4-1. The Bruins also waltzed unbeaten through regionals and supers, outscoring their opponents 33-9 in five games. UCLA heads back to Omaha for the second time in three seasons and awaits the winner of the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
On to the rest of Saturday's action:
Baton Rouge Super Regional
In the resumption of Friday's suspended game, LSU got a walk-off RBI single from Mason Katz to beat Stony Brook 5-4 in 12 innings. Kevin Gausman threw 12 pitches in a scoreless inning of work to earn the win, then started the second game 50 minutes later, pitching well in defeat (7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). The Seawolves did not wilt even after letting the first game slip through their fingers in heart-breaking fashion, as RBI singles by Sal Intagliata and Willie Carmona gave Stony Brook a 2-0 lead in the third inning against the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, and Tyler Johnson (9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K) did the rest, leading SBU to a 3-1 win. Johnson, who threw 229 pitches over two starts in regionals last week, collapsed into teammates' arms after his 127-pitch three-hitter against LSU. The two teams meet again Sunday with a trip to Omaha on the line.
Columbia Super Regional
South Carolina chased Jordan John with three runs in the second, and Michael Roth (7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) took it from there, leading the Gamecocks to a 5-0 win against Oklahoma in the first game of the series. Roth left the mound at Carolina Stadium for almost certainly the final time in his storied career to a spine-tingling ovation in the eighth, and Tyler Webb followed with 1.1 innings of perfect relief to preserve the victory. Evan Marzilli and Christian Walker had two hits apiece to pace South Carolina's eight-hit attack. The Gamecocks extended their mind-boggling NCAA record postseason winning streak to 20 games, and extended their home winning streak to 23 games in the NCA tournament.
Eugene Super Regional
Kent State pitchers issued 11 walks but still carried a three-run lead into the ninth inning, then held off Oregon's late rally to win 7-6. The Ducks had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, when J.J. Altobelli drove a Josh Pierce offering into left-center field, and Evan Campbell made a full-extension, tumbling catch for the final out. The Golden Flashes capitalized on crucial Oregon errors in their two-run rallies in the third and eighth innings.
Gainesville Super Regional
Florida took command with a four-run third inning against Ethan Ogburn (4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER) and cruised to a 7-1 win against North Carolina State behind Hudson Randall (7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K). Mike Zunino (2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI) hit his 19th home run and led the Florida offense, as the Gators took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Tallahassee Super Regional
Game Two of the series was postponed by rain until Sunday. The decisive third game would be played Monday, if necessary.
Waco Super Regional
Baylor pounced on D.J. Baxendale (4 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) for two runs in the first and extended the lead in the middle innings, cruising to an 8-1 win. Trent Blank (8 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) stymied the Arkansas bats, while Logan Vick, Max Muncy and Cal Towey combined for eight hits and five RBIs to lead Baylor's offense. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the series, with ace Josh Turley slated to take the mound Sunday against Ryne Stanek.
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I recall that "Scouting" report you posted, calling Baylor "average". I know that was a sour-grapes coach, but you should have known better.
Posted by DJ Drummond | June 10, 2012 at 12:40 pm | ShortcutDJ, I think you just misinterpreted that report — it wasn’t sour grapes, it was an assessment of a team that doesn’t blow you away in any phase, but is solid in all phases, and the sum is greater than the parts. It’s no different than the assessment that Steve Smith offered about his own team in our weekend preview back in April: “I remember answering that question then, saying, ‘Well, I don’t think we have anything real weak,’ ” Smith said. “I don’t think we have anything that’s real strong, either. I know this: We don’t send anybody to the mound that puts a bunch of fear and trembling to the other side. We have a bunch of good arms, no great arm. We’re competing—we’ve thrown 19 different guys, which is more than any team I’ve ever been around.
“If there’s anything about us that’s above-average, it’s just the offense. It’s the balance in the lineup one through nine. We’re just a baseball team. Baseball teams have speed at the top, speed at the bottom, power in the middle. And that’s really kind of what we are.”
Posted by Aaron Fitt | June 10, 2012 at 7:45 pm | Shortcut