June 21, 2012

CWS Game 10 Notes

CBI Live: #8 South Carolina 2, Arkansas 0

Roth does it again as South Carolina eliminates KSU

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

@roadtoomaha

OMAHA, Neb. – The legend grows.

Senior lefty Michael Roth tossed a two-hitter as No. 8 South Carolina eliminated Kent State 4-1 in the 2012 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.

The Gamecocks (47-18) will face Arkansas this evening at 8 p.m. CT. South Carolina needs two wins over the Razorbacks to reach the championship series. The Golden Flashes finished 47-20 after their first trip to Omaha.

Roth (9-1) allowed just two base-runners, a leadoff single to George Roberts and a RBI single to Sawyer Polen in the second as KSU took an early 1-0 lead. Roth retired the final 22 hitters and faced just one over the minimum. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight.

“I was able to hit the strike zone with pretty much every pitch I threw,” Roth said. “That helped me a lot. I didn't have any walks today. It was nice to be able to throw everything for strikes.”

Roth set a CWS record with 53.1 career innings pitched and tied the record with four career CWS victories. It was his second win in Omaha in 2012 after defeating Florida in the first round on June 16.

“Certainly today he was very special,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “He's had a lot of good ones. But this was probably the most critical game that he's pitched for us because he was good, and he gave us nine innings, which gave our bullpen a chance to rest.”

It was the first complete game for Roth this season and third in his career, all in the postseason. He went the distance to top Clemson 5-1 in the 2010 College World Series as the Gamecocks avoided elimination on their way to their first national title. Roth registered a 7-3 win over Auburn in the first round of the 2011 SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.

“He's a strike‑throwing machine,” said KSU head coach Scott Stricklin. “He throws from different arm angles. You never know what pitch is coming.

“Once we scored, it's almost like we made him mad. He just commanded the game.  That's why he's an All-American. He is the biggest superstar our game has and he throws 85 miles an hour. I've enjoyed watching him on TV. I did not enjoy watching him today.”

South Carolina responded to the early deficit with a pair in the bottom of the second. With one away, Adam Matthews singled and moved to second on a base hit by Kyle Martin. One out later, Grayson Greiner hit a grounder that Polen at third tried to backhand, but went off his glove into foul territory. Matthews scampered around to score ahead of Polen’s throw to the plate to make it a 1-1 contest. Chase Vergason followed with a single to right to plate Martin with the go-ahead run.

The Gamecocks used some two-out power to add to their lead. Christian Walker lined a double to right center and L.B. Dantzler deposited a 1-0 pitch in the stands above the bullpen in right to extend the lead to 4-1.

Sophomore right-hander Tyler Skulina (11-3) took the loss for KSU, going 5.2 innings with six hits, four walks and four runs. Skulina struck out nine, one away from his season high.

(photo courtesy of USC Media Relations Office)