By Jordan Dominick || The University of South Carolina baseball team will head to Omaha for the second year in a row – but this time head coach Ray Tanner’s Gamecocks will be defending a national title.
That’ means they’ll have a bigger target than usual on their backs – and several skilled opponents taking aim.
Joining USC at the College World Series this year are Florida and Vanderbilt from the SEC, Virginia and North Carolina from the ACC, Texas and Texas A&M from the Big 12 and California out of the Pac 10.
The Gamecocks (50-14) open their title defense on Sunday against Texas A&M – which upset Florida State on Monday to punch its ticket to Omaha. The Aggies (47-20) won the first game of their series 6-2 before getting pounded by the Seminoles 23-9 on Sunday (no, that’s not a football score). They rallied in the deciding game, though, defeating the Seminoles 11-2.
The only team that won on the road during the super regional round, the Aggies will start pitcher Ross Stripling (14-2) against the Gamecocks this weekend. Stripling boasts a 2.29 ERA for the season and has struck out 107 batters while walking only 17.
At the plate, the back end of the Aggie lineup had struggled for much of the season – but the bottom of the order has come on of late, helping them reach their fifth College World Series (and first since 1999).
Should the Gamecocks advance into the winner’s bracket, they would face either Virginia or California.
The ACC champion Cavaliers (54-10) have been spectacular all season. In fact, they didn’t reach double digits in the loss column until this past weekend when a defeat at the hands of UC Irvine placed them in an elimination game. The top overall seed in the tournament, the Cavaliers found themselves down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth inning – trailing UC Irvine 2-1. That’s when shortstop Chris Taylor saved their season with a walk-off two-run single – lifting them to a 3-2 victory.
The Cavaliers have solid pitching in Danny Hultzen (12-3), Will Roberts (11-1) and Tyler Wilson (8-0). Offensively, Taylor — the hero against UC Irvine – is hitting .310 on the season with 48 RBIs.
The University of California heads to Omaha enjoying a season straight out of a movie script. Last September, the university announced that it was cutting the baseball program, along with gymnastics and women’s lacrosse. It wasn’t until a few months ago that the program was saved thanks to funding pulled together by dedicated alumni.
Now the Bears (37-21) are paying those faithful alumni back (with interest) by making their first College World Series appearance since 1992. Obviously they enter the field as an underdog, but the Bears could quickly become a fan favorite if they pick up an early win or two.
On the other side of the bracket, the North Carolina Tar Heels face the Vanderbilt Commodores while the Florida Gators square off against the Texas Longhorns.
The Tar Heels (50-14) are making their fifth trip to the College World Series in the last six seasons after making short work of Stanford in the super regional round. While North Carolina knows its way around Omaha, the Commodores (52-10) are making their first appearance on the sport’s biggest stage. For an athletic program with a bare trophy case, just making the College World Series is big news for the SEC co-champs – while a win would be the biggest athletic accomplishment in school history.
The SEC c0-champion Florida Gators (50-17) edged by Mississippi State in a super regional elimination game to make their seventh College World Series appearance. Trailing 6-4 in the seventh inning, junior Preston Tucker hit a three-run homer to lift the Gators over the Bulldogs.
The key to beating Florida would seem to be holding a late lead in the game. After all, the Gators are a perfect 43-0 when heading into the seventh inning with a lead – but only 2-13 when trailing after that mark. History also seems to work against the Gators, as they are 1-2 all time against Big 12 teams in Omaha.
Speaking of Big 12 teams – the Texas Longhorns (49-17) outlasted traditional PAC 10 powerhouse Arizona State 4-2 in an elimination game to reach Omaha for a record 34th time.
The winningest program in college baseball history, the Longhorns have six national championships to their credit – including a 2002 win over South Carolina. Should the Longhorns square off against the Gamecocks again, USC should expect to face a number of pitchers as the bullpen continues to be the strength of this Texas team. In five of its NCAA Tournament victories this year, Texas has used at least four pitchers, showcasing the depth of the unit.
In a field full of strong teams and intriguing story lines, the Gamecocks stand out as the defending national champions. Having won the last title at historic Rosenblatt Stadium – they now have the opportunity to capture the first title at the new TD Ameritrade Park.
That quest begins on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. EDT against Texas A&M – a game which will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
By Muskrat70 June 16, 2011 at 9:28 am
Go Cocks!!
By BigT June 16, 2011 at 9:32 am
My Critique of this article:
Unless there is a miracle: The ACC teams are merely fodder for the real baseball conferences. The ACC has not won a CWS Title since 1955. It is a VASTLY over-rated conference, although UNC was fairly formidable a few years ago.
Florida and Vandy are likely the best teams there, besides USC.
Also: USC has no bigger of a Target on its back than any other CWS team. To use the ‘Target’ line is Cliche.
With Jerry Meyers back at pitching coach, USC is lilely the BEST team in the country. USC does not blow leads like it had done w/ Mark Calvi as pitching coach. I think Holbrook took over the pitchers for last year’s run. Now Meyers is back. Very good news for the Gamecocks.
It’s TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH to win a Title, but I think USC should (and will) repeat. I think they will. If they don’t, the team that beats them, will have to be REAL good, if there is not a fluke.
One other thing: there is a little too much cliche in the article: Like characterizing Texas as the winningest. If you want to interject history, make sure you mention the futility of the ACC. That is actually more pertinent than the all-time record of Texas.
By David Brent June 16, 2011 at 11:28 am
My critique of BigT:
Query whether you even know what cliche means. Based on your comments, I’m going with “I doubt you do.”
By Big T June 16, 2011 at 11:50 am
David” I was a lot more articulate in explaining my comments than you are.
Usually when you drop an attempted insult, w/o the ability to support it, you are a lot less interesting w/o offering much worth reading.
What specifically do you reject to in my comments and why? Why do you support the article’s contentions?
PS: I think I know what Jordan is attempting to do, and I support him. That said: if you can offer something different, based on insight, creativity and intelligent thought, you become much more valuable.
Proffering the same old comment you get elsewhere may provide security in time, but it will not improve the industry or distinguish the source.
By Jeffy01 June 16, 2011 at 1:25 pm
What bracket is Clempsun in?
By june raines June 16, 2011 at 1:39 pm
carolina is in the best position of any team in the world series. even being defending champs, they don’t have any pressure. they overachieved after matthews and jackie went down. winning the sec regular season was, honestly, enough for this team. rolling through the ncaa regs and super regs was business as usual. the 2 best teams are definitely vandy and florida. carolina beat both. carolina is not better than either team, but their 4 team cws group is a dream. virginia, both overrated and untested. texas a&m, n o real big time experience. cal, worst team at cws. i’m not saying that carolina is gonna win another one, but they are definitely the favorites to make the final. hopefully we’ll just win 3 games, nice and easy and florida and vandy will kill each other off. no team has a more steely resolve than carolina. theyre not flashy, except on defense, and they can wear down even the best pitchers with long at bats. and no team plays more efficiently than carolina. they could definitely get out hit or beaten by 2nd and 3rd starters. i didnt even mention their experience.
By Big T June 16, 2011 at 2:49 pm
GREAT Analysis, June. Very insightful, on top of being accurate.
By JYM June 16, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I like both of your points, Big T and june. But I wouldn’t count out Florida and ESPECIALLY Vanderbilt so easily. I honestly don’t think USC has what I would call a better chance than either one of them. I do think we can all agree that the championship game will probably include SEC teams on at least one, if not both, sides. :)
By Otter June 16, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Jeffy01: The watch the Gamecocks on ESPN HD bracket!!!
By Big T June 16, 2011 at 4:31 pm
JYM: I’m more respectful of Vandy than Florida. But I’m not taking either lightly. They are bot REAL Good. I’m glad they are both on the other side of the bracket.
And while I like USC’s chances as much as anybody’s, it will be TOUGH to repeat. It’s just a hard tournament to win. It takes a GREAT team and some breaks.
By Jeffy01 June 16, 2011 at 5:14 pm
You got that right! Prime time!