College World Series; Gamecocks hurdle many obstacles, steal Game 1 from Florida
The bases were loaded for Florida in the ninth inning. No one out, three runners on. So Scott Wingo stepped up. In the tenth, Robert Berry and Jake Williams stepped up. In the 11th, Christian Walker stepped up.
But the real support was provided by Florida.
Two Gator errors in the top of the tenth got Walker from first to home on a steal as South Carolina beat Florida 2-1 in eleven innings. Florida had three chances in the ninth and tenth, but they blew it.
In the ninth, the bases were loaded with no one out. A grounder was hit to second baseman Scott Wingo, who made a diving stop, then threw to home to get the runner out. Wingo had saved the game, and he would save it again.
And it happened with the next batter. Wing fielded another grounder, threw home for one out, then Robert Berry threw to first for the third out of the inning. However, in the tenth, Florida threatened again.
With a runner on second and two outs, Mike Zunino hit a single into left, where left fielder Jake Williams fielded it. The runner on second attempted to score, but Williams made a pinpoint throw.
The throw was on target, but Berry still needed to tag the runner. After catching the throw, Berry reached out to tag the runner, and he held on to the ball. The game was still tied.
In the eleventh, most people who were watching the game thought Florida would finally come through, but it was the opposite. South Carolina's Christian Walker, who has a fractured wrist, started the rally with a base hit to center.
South Carolina got no more hits, but they didn't need any more hits. Walker attempted to steal second, and he might not have made it, but the throw was high. Walker went to third, and the throw was also off target, so Walker jogged home to give the 'Cocks the lead.
In the bottom of the eleventh, the Gamecocks ended then game with a groundout, and the CWS was started with a win for South Carolina. If South Carolina wins one of the next two games, they are CWS champions.
But the real support was provided by Florida.
Two Gator errors in the top of the tenth got Walker from first to home on a steal as South Carolina beat Florida 2-1 in eleven innings. Florida had three chances in the ninth and tenth, but they blew it.
In the ninth, the bases were loaded with no one out. A grounder was hit to second baseman Scott Wingo, who made a diving stop, then threw to home to get the runner out. Wingo had saved the game, and he would save it again.
And it happened with the next batter. Wing fielded another grounder, threw home for one out, then Robert Berry threw to first for the third out of the inning. However, in the tenth, Florida threatened again.
With a runner on second and two outs, Mike Zunino hit a single into left, where left fielder Jake Williams fielded it. The runner on second attempted to score, but Williams made a pinpoint throw.
The throw was on target, but Berry still needed to tag the runner. After catching the throw, Berry reached out to tag the runner, and he held on to the ball. The game was still tied.
In the eleventh, most people who were watching the game thought Florida would finally come through, but it was the opposite. South Carolina's Christian Walker, who has a fractured wrist, started the rally with a base hit to center.
South Carolina got no more hits, but they didn't need any more hits. Walker attempted to steal second, and he might not have made it, but the throw was high. Walker went to third, and the throw was also off target, so Walker jogged home to give the 'Cocks the lead.
In the bottom of the eleventh, the Gamecocks ended then game with a groundout, and the CWS was started with a win for South Carolina. If South Carolina wins one of the next two games, they are CWS champions.
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