June 21, 2012

CBI Live: #8 South Carolina 2, Arkansas 0

CWS Game 12 Notes

South Carolina wins twice in one day in Omaha

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

@roadtoomaha

South Carolina is the third team to win two College World Series games in one day and the first in 60 years. Tennessee won twice on June 16, 1951, and Holy Cross picked up two wins on June 15, 1952.

The Gamecocks are the first team in 25 years to play twice in one day. Georgia completed a suspended game against Stanford on May 31, 1987, and played a full dame against Arkansas. The last time a team played two complete games in the same day was in 1980. Michigan played Miami (Fla.) and Arizona on June 2, 1980. California faced Michigan and Clemson on June 1, 1980.

South Carolina has won six straight elimination games in the College World Series, dating back to 2010.

The Razorbacks lead the all-time series with the Gamecocks 32-27. This was the third CWS meeting between Arkansas and South Carolina. The Razorbacks won the previous two meetings, 2-1 on June 18, 2012, and 1-0 in 14 innings on May 31, 1985. South Carolina owns a 3-2 advantage this season against Arkansas.

Through the first 12 games of this year’s CWS, starting pitchers on winning teams have averaged 7.11 innings, while starters on losing teams have averaged 3.14 innings.

Arkansas pitchers have posted an ERA of 1.80 in the NCAA tourney (16 earned runs in 80 innings). In the CWS, the Razorbacks have surrendered four runs in 27 innings (1.33 ERA). The Arkansas bullpen has a scoreless streak of 23.2 innings.

Christian Walker of South Carolina has 25 career hits in the CWS. It is the second-highest total, trailing 28 by Dustin Ackley of North Carolina (2007-09). Walker has 245 career hits, tied for 10th in South Carolina history.

There were two great atypical double plays. In the top of the seventh, Grayson Greiner drew a leadoff walk for the Gamecocks. Chase Vergason bunted directly in front of the plate. Catcher Jake Wise made a bare-handed grab and started a 2-6-3 twin-killing. In the bottom of the eighth, Brian Anderson received a leadoff walk for the Razorbacks. Bo Bigham sent a shot down the first-base line. Walker made a diving stop, tagged first base and threw to second in time to nail a sliding Anderson.