Look back on Thursday night's dramatic win against Oklahoma in the College World Series and you'll find example after example of the resilience that has come to define these Gamecocks.
Start with a gutsy performance from senior Blake Cooper pitching on just three days of rest. The right-hander battled his way through five innings, allowing four hits and striking out six. Cooper allowed just one run to keep South Carolina's struggling offense in striking distance.
"Coop gave us a heck of a start. He's pitched for us all year and never missed a turn. The reason he was out there is he said he could go," said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner.
Fast-forward to the ninth inning when closer Matt Price entered and put on one of his best performances of the season. Needing to keep the Sooners scoreless to give the Gamecocks a chance to win, Price worked out of a jam with two runners on and just one out. Price got first baseman Cameron Seitzer to ground into an inning-ending double play to preserve the score. The freshman followed that inning up with two more perfect innings, striking out the side in the 11th. His final line: 3 innings, 0 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts.
"Price was spectacular," said Tanner. "He was really, really good."
But things still wouldn't come easy for the Gamecocks. Reliever Ethan Carter gave up a solo home run to Sooner catcher Tyler Ogle to put Oklahoma ahead 2-1 in the top of the 12th. Tyler Webb came on to limit the damage and Carolina was facing a deficit with its season on the line.
Robert Beary singled to start the inning and would steal second after Evan Marzilli struck out. Whit Merrifield popped out in foul territory and the Gamecocks were down to their last out. Sophomore outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr came to the plate after an 0-for-5 night with Gamecock fans praying for a miracle.
Bradley took Sooner closer Ryan Duke down to the final strike before singling just beyond the reach of Seitzer, scoring Beary from second base.
"I was fortunate to get the big hit in a game, just fighting and battling," said Bradley. "I knew I was going to get my chance and I made it count."
The Gamecocks pushed for the win as pinch-hitter Jeffery Jones drew a two-out walk to bring up designated hitter Brady Thomas. Like Bradley, the senior was also 0-for-5 on the evening, but was able to put that behind him as he singled up the middle to give the Gamecocks the win.
"I was just looking for a strike to put somewhere because I knew a base hit would score a run," said Thomas. "I got a fastball and was fortunate to put a good swing on it."
"A Great College Baseball Game"
Whether you're a Gamecock, a Sooner or neither, Thursday night's game between the two schools certainly was a classic.
"That's how it should be. I'm proud of both teams. If you're going to play your last baseball game and you're going to lose, you want to do something you're going to be proud of," said Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway. "And I couldn't be more proud of the way our players played."
Tanner said it was a game where both teams deserved to win.
"It was just a great game by both teams fighting hard," he said. "You hate to have anybody lose tonight, really."
Tanner Undecided on Friday Starter
With his No. 1 and No. 2 starters too taxed to start Friday against Clemson, Tanner was undecided on Thursday about his next starter.
"I'm not being evasive, but I don't really have an idea," he said. "Neff is a candidate. Maybe Michael Roth. I don't know. We'll go back and regroup and try to see who our freshest guys are. We'll go back and make a decision."
Clemson Looms for Carolina
In a repeat of 2002, the Gamecocks will have to defeat in-state rival Clemson twice over the next two days to stay alive in the College World Series and advance to the championship series. But Bradley downplayed the significance of the opponent.
"It's going to be fun," he said. "Of course we know who we're playing, big rivalry and all, but it's just playing another baseball game. Just gotta win or go home."
The Tigers and Gamecocks play Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Start with a gutsy performance from senior Blake Cooper pitching on just three days of rest. The right-hander battled his way through five innings, allowing four hits and striking out six. Cooper allowed just one run to keep South Carolina's struggling offense in striking distance.
"Coop gave us a heck of a start. He's pitched for us all year and never missed a turn. The reason he was out there is he said he could go," said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner.
Fast-forward to the ninth inning when closer Matt Price entered and put on one of his best performances of the season. Needing to keep the Sooners scoreless to give the Gamecocks a chance to win, Price worked out of a jam with two runners on and just one out. Price got first baseman Cameron Seitzer to ground into an inning-ending double play to preserve the score. The freshman followed that inning up with two more perfect innings, striking out the side in the 11th. His final line: 3 innings, 0 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts.
"Price was spectacular," said Tanner. "He was really, really good."
But things still wouldn't come easy for the Gamecocks. Reliever Ethan Carter gave up a solo home run to Sooner catcher Tyler Ogle to put Oklahoma ahead 2-1 in the top of the 12th. Tyler Webb came on to limit the damage and Carolina was facing a deficit with its season on the line.
Robert Beary singled to start the inning and would steal second after Evan Marzilli struck out. Whit Merrifield popped out in foul territory and the Gamecocks were down to their last out. Sophomore outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr came to the plate after an 0-for-5 night with Gamecock fans praying for a miracle.
Bradley took Sooner closer Ryan Duke down to the final strike before singling just beyond the reach of Seitzer, scoring Beary from second base.
"I was fortunate to get the big hit in a game, just fighting and battling," said Bradley. "I knew I was going to get my chance and I made it count."
The Gamecocks pushed for the win as pinch-hitter Jeffery Jones drew a two-out walk to bring up designated hitter Brady Thomas. Like Bradley, the senior was also 0-for-5 on the evening, but was able to put that behind him as he singled up the middle to give the Gamecocks the win.
"I was just looking for a strike to put somewhere because I knew a base hit would score a run," said Thomas. "I got a fastball and was fortunate to put a good swing on it."
"A Great College Baseball Game"
Whether you're a Gamecock, a Sooner or neither, Thursday night's game between the two schools certainly was a classic.
"That's how it should be. I'm proud of both teams. If you're going to play your last baseball game and you're going to lose, you want to do something you're going to be proud of," said Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway. "And I couldn't be more proud of the way our players played."
Tanner said it was a game where both teams deserved to win.
"It was just a great game by both teams fighting hard," he said. "You hate to have anybody lose tonight, really."
Tanner Undecided on Friday Starter
With his No. 1 and No. 2 starters too taxed to start Friday against Clemson, Tanner was undecided on Thursday about his next starter.
"I'm not being evasive, but I don't really have an idea," he said. "Neff is a candidate. Maybe Michael Roth. I don't know. We'll go back and regroup and try to see who our freshest guys are. We'll go back and make a decision."
Clemson Looms for Carolina
In a repeat of 2002, the Gamecocks will have to defeat in-state rival Clemson twice over the next two days to stay alive in the College World Series and advance to the championship series. But Bradley downplayed the significance of the opponent.
"It's going to be fun," he said. "Of course we know who we're playing, big rivalry and all, but it's just playing another baseball game. Just gotta win or go home."
The Tigers and Gamecocks play Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
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