For the first time since 2004, the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team will be playing in the College World Series.
Thanks to the swing of freshman Christian Walker, who hit a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give South Carolina a 10-9 lead as the Gamecocks defeated Coastal Carolina in Game 2 of the best of three series.
The Gamecocks won game 1 yesterday by the score of 4-3. They won today in dramatic fashion 10-9. Never would have guessed the games would be decided by two runs total.
Tanner praised his team’s grit and ability in the clutch. “They fight until the final out,” he said. “And then Walker hits one that he’ll remember forever.”
South Carolina is on the way to its ninth College World Series and first since a run of three-straight appearances ended in 2004.
“It’s only been six years,” Tanner said. “But a lot of people think it’s been 25. I get reminded of that a lot.”
The Gamecocks move to 48-15 for the year.
This series win is owed to several things:
- Good Pitching yesterday from Cooper
- Matt Price as he was lights out late in both games
- The SC bullpen in general
- Good overall hitting from Carolina
- Wingo’s Double Play
- And Walker’s for his blast that was heard around Gamecock Nation.
The Gamecocks play the winner of the Virginia-Oklahoma Super Regional in the CWS.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
