All the way back: Gamecocks finish off UNCW for regional crown – The State

South Carolina coach Chad Holbrook said his team would have to handle adversity to make a run in the postseason. The Gamecocks overcame plenty in the Columbia Regional, finishing off a run out of the loser’s bracket with a 10-5 win over UNC Wilmington Tuesday afternoon to advance to a Super Regional.

USC will host Oklahoma State beginning on Saturday, after the Cowboys won the Clemson Regional, needing two wins in three games to advance to the College World Series. USC’s set to host a Super Regional for the first time under Holbrook.

“Things didn’t look good for us on Friday night. … I have a group of guys that just don’t quit. They believe in the uniform they’re representing. There’s something special about that Gamecock spirit when it comes to putting on a baseball uniform,” Holbrook said. “They fought back in it and found a way to win the thing. I couldn’t be more proud of my team.”

South Carolina got contributions from just about everybody in the lineup in the must-win game, pounding out 13 hits, led by TJ Hopkins and Madison Stokes with three each.

Alex Destino went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Stokes drove in three. DC Arendas and John Jones added two RBIs.

The Gamecocks outscored opponents 47-10 in the final four games of the regional after losing their opener, 5-4. USC scored 43 runs over its final three games.

“We can be difficult to beat here when we play well and get the crowd going,” Holbrook said. “We played at a high level for four straight games. We played about as good as we can play.”

South Carolina used a five-run fourth inning to take control against UNCW, with Destino and Stokes both hitting two-run singles and Arendas bringing home a run with a safety squeeze.

Stokes had an RBI single in the sixth inning, Cone walked with the bases loaded in the same frame and Arendas hit a solo homer to right in the eighth before the Seahawks rallied late.

USC led 8-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. UNCW scored one run off USC starting pitcher Taylor Widener in four innings of work and struggled early against reliever Josh Reagan.

Reagan pitched three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the eighth. The first three Seahawks reached base and South Carolina brought in ace Clarke Schmidt in relief.

A double by Casey Golden scored two runs, an Andy Austin groundout scored another and Zack Canada added an RBI single before Schmidt got out of the jam with USC leading 8-5.

South Carolina responded with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth inning. Jonah Bride and Stokes each were hit by a pitch and Jones drilled a pinch-hit, two-run double off the top of the wall in right-center to give USC a couple of big insurance runs.

Gamecocks starter Braden Webb made his first relief appearance of the season and allowed only one base runner in the ninth inning, pitching a scoreless frame to close out the victory.

THREE POINTS

Star of the game: Madison Stokes: The first baseman struggled in the regional entering Tuesday but scored three runs, drove in three runs and went 3-for-4.

Play of the game: UNCW had momentum before John Jones blasted a two-run double off the wall in right with two outs in the ninth. The sophomore delivered two huge insurance runs despite spending most of the weekend on the bench because he faltered late in the year.

Stat of the game: 43: The Gamecocks scored 43 runs in their final three games of the regional.

OBSERVATIONS

Holbrook pushed the right buttons: USC’s coach made the decision to start Tyler Johnson Sunday night, pinch-hit Jones in the ninth inning and give Arendas a chance after struggling during the regular season.

Not much work was done in Columbia Tuesday: Not a big crowd was expected for a Tuesday afternoon game, but more than 7,000 fans were on hand. It was the biggest crowd of any game the entire regional and the fans made a difference.

Widener was electric: The junior was moved out of the weekend rotation early in the year, but has pitched great the past several weeks. He got USC off to a good start, allowing three hits and one run over four innings of work with a fastball that was in the low-to-mid 90s and a slider that was sharp.

NEXT

What: South Carolina vs. Oklahoma St.

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Founders Park

Probable pitchers: USC – TBA; OSU – TBA

Watch: ESPN2

Radio: 107.5 FM