June 18, 2012

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OMAHA, Neb. — The Arkansas Razorbacks scored twice in the first four innings and held on for a 2-1 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in a winner’s bracket game at the College World Series on Monday night. The loss drops Carolina (46-18) into a Wednesday night elimination game against Kent State (47-19) at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Golden Flashes eliminated Florida by a 5-4 score earlier in the day. The winner of that contest would have to defeat Arkansas twice to advance to the championship round. The loss snaps Carolina’s NCAA-record 22-game postseason winning streak and also ends the Gamecocks’ 12-game winning streak at the College World Series.

Arkansas got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning. Tim Carver led off with a single to right, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a groundout and scored on Dominic Ficociello’s RBI double in the left-centerfield gap.

The Razorbacks made is 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Brian Anderson walked, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Matt Vinson.

Carolina cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth inning. Chase Veragson led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Dante Rosenberg and scored on Evan Marzilli’s two-out triple to deep centerfield. Marzilli had two hits in the contest and has four in two games at the College World Series including three extra-base hits.

The Gamecocks were limited to just four hits on the night and were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven runners on base. Arkansas wasn’t much better, collecting just six hits and going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position while leaving seven runners on base. Both teams committed one error.

Gamecock starter Colby Holmes (7-2) was tagged with the loss. He lasted 3.2 innings on a very warm night, allowing four hits and two runs, both earned with two walks and two strikeouts. He allowed the leadoff batter to reach base safely in all four innings that he worked, with two scoring.

Southpaw Tyler Webb was outstanding in his longest relief outing of the season. He worked 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Arkansas starter Ryne Stanek (8-4) worked the first six innings for the win. He allowed three hits and one run with three walks and three strikeouts while throwing 91 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Barrett Astin pitched the final three frames, allowing one hit for the save.

“It was a heck of a college baseball game,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “(Ryne) Stanek and (Barrett) Astin were very good tonight. I thought our hitters battled hard up there. But their stuff was very special. At least from where my vantage point, I thought they were very good. Of course, Tyler Webb came in for us and just battled his rear end off and gave us a chance to maybe get something going but we just weren’t able to get any runs against their pitching staff. But a great game, and like I said, Stanek and Astin were very special.”