South Carolina is headed back to the College World Series, beating Oklahoma 5-1 yesterday in Columbia, S.C., for its 21st straight NCAA tournament win.
The two-time defending champion Gamecocks wrapped up the super regional series for their third straight trip to Omaha and 11th CWS appearance overall.
Should South Carolina (45-17) again prevail, it would join the powerhouse program of Southern Cal as the only schools with more than two consecutive CWS titles. The Trojans hold the record with five straight crowns from 1970-74.
The game was suspended Sunday because of heavy rain. Once things resumed, South Carolina quickly took control to put away the Sooners (42-25).
Gamecocks closer Matt Price got catcher Dylan Neal on a check-swing, called third strike to set off the latest celebration at Carolina Stadium.
South Carolina opens CWS play Saturday against Florida, the tournament’s No. 1 seed and the Gamecocks’ SEC rival. The Gators also were the club that fell to the Gamecocks in the CWS championship series last summer.
Kent State 3, Oregon 2
In Eugene, Ore., Jimmy Rider drove in the winning run with a shallow pop fly that landed just inside the left-field foul line in the bottom of the ninth, sending Kent State to its first College World Series.
Kent State (46-18) is the first team from the Mid-American Conference since Eastern Michigan in 1976 to advance past the NCAA super regional.
Arkansas 1, Baylor 0 (10)
In Waco, Texas, Jake Wise drove in a run with a two-out single in the top of the 10th inning and Arkansas advanced to the College World Series.
It will be the seventh CWS for the Razorbacks (44-20), who play Kent State on Saturday.