Garnet And Black Attack - GABA's 2016 Super Regionals Coverage: South Carolina vs. Oklahoma State#SpursUphttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50351/gaba-fav.png2016-06-12T18:26:08-04:00http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/rss/stream/116436432016-06-12T18:26:08-04:002016-06-12T18:26:08-04:00Gamecocks Eliminated With 3-1 Loss to Cowboys
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<figcaption><a href='thebigspur.com'>TheBigSpur</a></figcaption>
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<p>South Carolina struggled at the plate again and was eliminated from the postseason with another loss to the Cowboys</p> <p>After the offense being pretty much nonexistent today, the Gamecocks had more of the same today, again mustering just one run and losing to Oklahoma State.</p>
<p>Both teams were quiet offensively for the first half of Sunday's game, racking up just a handful of hits. Unfortunately, things fell apart for South Carolina in the fifth inning. Jon Littell led off with a single, then with one out, a bad play by Marcus Mooney allowed the Cowboys to get runners on the corners. A squeeze bunt that was also misplayed loaded the bases, and by the time everything was said and done, Oklahoma State was up 3-0 and the Gamecocks looked like a mess.</p>
<p>South Carolina finally brought an end to the shut out in the eighth inning. Gene Cone walked to start things off, TJ Hopkins followed with a single, and a wild pitch eventually brought Cone home. The Gamecocks made things interesting in the ninth, but as with pretty much everything else during this Super Regional, they couldn't catch a break. After DC Arendas walked with two outs and Mooney singled, Cone smoked a ball right to the Cowboys second baseman to end the game.</p>
<p>Outside of the fifth inning when things went badly for pretty much everyone, Clarke Schmidt had a pretty good outing. He worked seven innings and allowed six hits, three runs, walked two batters, and struck out five. Tyler Johnson went the rest of the way for South Carolina.</p>
<p>This is obviously a disappointing end to a bounce back season for the Gamecocks. For a team that didn't even make a Regional last year, that's a pretty noteworthy improvement. There's also no shame in losing to a clearly good team like Oklahoma State, who was dialed in all weekend. South Carolina finishes the 2016 season with an overall record of 46-18.</p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/12/11915652/south-carolina-vs-oklahoma-state-game-2-recap-gamecocks-lose-to-cowboys-eliminatedKatie Dzwierzynski2016-06-12T13:36:31-04:002016-06-12T13:36:31-04:00Gamecocks lineup for Game 2<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/GamecockBasebll/status/742037920694054913">South Carolina's Super Regional Game 2 starting lineup against Oklahoma&nbsp;State</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>John Jones back in the lineup today for the Gamecocks. Hunter Taylor out, but could presumably be one of the first bats off of the bench if needed.</p></p></div>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/12/11913390/south-carolinas-super-regional-game-2-starting-lineup-againstSydney Hunte2016-06-12T08:55:21-04:002016-06-12T08:55:21-04:00Newlyweds hold reception at Gamecocks baseball game
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<figcaption><a href='http://twitter.com/joshatthestate'>Josh Kendall (@JoshAtTheState)</a></figcaption>
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<p>Because a baseball game is a perfect place for a wedding reception, right?</p> <p>Weddings are always an exciting experience. It's awesome to see a couple tie the knot and pledge their lifelong commitment to each other, then celebrate the union by dancing the night away at the reception afterwards.</p>
<p>Or, if you're like one newly married couple, you spend the wedding reception at...a South Carolina baseball game? If you're Justin and Kelsey Kata, then the answer is absolutely yes. The Katas, fresh off of exchanging their vows just hours before, bucked tradition in a big way and held their wedding reception at the Gamecocks' Super Regional tilt against Oklahoma State. Not only were the Katas there, but the entire wedding party was with them, too!</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heck of a day for a wedding reception at Columbia Super Regional. <a href="https://t.co/QJOMbupX6I">pic.twitter.com/QJOMbupX6I</a></p>
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/741722019172130816">June 11, 2016</a>
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<p>Unfortunately for Justin and Kelsey, the Gamecocks couldn't bring home a win yesterday in a 5-1 loss, which would have been a nice cap to the day's proceedings. But we suspect that the rest of the day went off without a hitch despite the baseball team's loss.</p>
<p>We wish Justin and Kelsey many happy years of marriage and that the Gamecocks losing on their big day isn't a bad omen. Hopefully they and their future children will be able to see the football team win a national championship before too long, though.</p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/12/11911680/south-carolina-super-regional-newlywedsSydney Hunte2016-06-12T08:00:04-04:002016-06-12T08:00:04-04:00Gamecocks/OSU: Super Regional Day 2 Game Thread/How To Watch
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<p>It's do or die for the Gamecocks as they try to force a third and deciding game in their Super Regional.</p> <p>After getting shut down by third-round draft pick and third-team All-American Thomas Hatch, the South Carolina Gamecocks face a familiar scenario: they must win in order to keep their season alive. They will send Clarke Schmidt to the mound against Oklahoma State this afternoon in an attempt to force a third and deciding game tomorrow.</p>
<p>The Gamecocks fell to the Cowboys <a href="http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/11/11910492/south-carolina-vs-oklahoma-state-game-1-recap-gamecocks-lose-to">5-1</a> yesterday to give the Cowboys a 1-0 edge in the series and in search of a win today to advance to their first College World Series since 1999. For the Gamecocks, it's a matter of mere survival, but they know that if they can pull out a win this afternoon in a pressure situation, they'll enter tomorrow on level terms in what would be a winner-take-all contest. But, as we know, this has been a team that has come back from adversity before (see the regional, in which they won four games in a row to get to this point), so we'll have to see if they can do it once more and get to a Monday showdown.</p>
<p>Details on how you can watch/listen to the game are below. Also, the comments are open for you to chime in on the game throughout the afternoon!</p>
<p><b>Start Time</b>: 3pm ET</p>
<p><b>TV</b>: ESPN2</p>
<p><b>Live Stream</b>: WatchESPN.com</p>
<p><b>Radio</b>: Gamecock IMG Sports Network (107.5 The Game in Columbia); live audio stream available <a href="http://www.gamecocksonline.com/collegesportslive/?media=532544">here</a></p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/12/11911280/south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboys-super-regional-ncaa-baseball-championshipSydney Hunte2016-06-11T18:21:07-04:002016-06-11T18:21:07-04:00Super Regional Game 1: Gamecocks Lose to OSU 5-1
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<figcaption><a href='http://southcarolina.247sports.com/Gallery/44363948/Photos/11jpg-4401613?View=Full#11jpg-4401613'>TheBigSpur</a></figcaption>
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<p>South Carolina's offense was MIA in the first game of the Super Regional</p> <p>Between the Gamecocks offense no-showing and a handful of other mistakes, this was not a great game to open the Super Regional.</p>
<p>The first couple of innings were quiet for both teams, but Oklahoma State got on the board in the third, thanks to a leadoff homer from Ryan Sluder. With two outs, J.R. Davis was hit by a pitch, and Corey Hassel came through with an RBI single to make it 2-0.</p>
<p>Both teams tallied a handful of hits through the middle innings, but no more runs came in until the ninth inning, when both teams scored. In the top of the inning, Collin Theroux smacked a three-run homer with one out to put OSU on top 5-0. South Carolina answered in the bottom of the inning when Dom Thompson-Williams belted a lead-off home run to get his team on the board. They had a chance to do more damage after Alex Destino walked and John Jones knocked a pinch-hit single with two outs, but - thanks in part to questionable umpiring - they weren't able to bring in any more runs.</p>
<p>Starter Braden Webb did a decent job overall, and he managed to pitch himself out of trouble a few times. Webb worked 7.2 innings and gave up six hits, two runs, walked two batters and struck out five. He also took the loss. Reed Scott and Taylor Widener also pitched for the Gamecocks in this game.</p>
<p>The loss sets up an elimination game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Carolina Stadium.</p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/11/11910492/south-carolina-vs-oklahoma-state-game-1-recap-gamecocks-lose-toKatie Dzwierzynski2016-06-11T13:00:03-04:002016-06-11T13:00:03-04:00Super Regional Game 1: Game Thread
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<figcaption><a href='https://thebigspur.smugmug.com/Gamecock-Baseball'>The Big Spur</a></figcaption>
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<p>The Yardcocks take on the Cowboys</p> <p>After running the table through the loser's bracket last weekend, the Gamecocks find themselves at home for the Super Regionals against a stout Oklahoma State team. Here's all the information you'll need for today's game.</p>
<p><b>How to Watch:</b></p>
<p>ESPN2/<a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index">WatchESPN</a></p>
<p><b>When:</b></p>
<p>3 PM</p>
<p><b>Where:</b></p>
<p>Founder's Park, Columbia, SC</p>
<p><b>Pitching:</b></p>
<p>Oklahoma State - Thomas Hatch (Jr.): 7-2, 2.16 ERA, 112.1 IP, 102 SO, 28 BB</p>
<p>South Carolina - Braden Webb (Fr.): 10-5, 3.24 ERA, 94.1 IP, 123 SO, 46 BB</p>
<p><b>Preview Information:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/10/11898340/south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboys-ncaa-baseball-omaha">Listen to our podcast</a> for a preview in a matter of an hour. You can also find our series preview <a href="http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/10/11900418/2016-ncaa-baseball-tournament-super-regional-preview-south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboys">here</a> and our conversation with our sister blog, <a href="http://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/">Cowboys Ride for Free</a>, <a href="http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/10/11900850/south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboys-2016-super-regional-ncaa-baseball-championship">here</a>.</p>
<p>Go Cocks!</p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/2016/6/11/11905088/south-carolina-gamecocks-vs-oklahoma-state-cowboys-super-regional-howSMcDowell932016-06-10T12:42:35-04:002016-06-10T12:42:35-04:00Carolina vs Oklahoma State Super Regional Preview
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<figcaption><a href='http://southcarolina.247sports.com/Gallery/45657810/GallerySlides/276004-276004?View=Full#276004-276004'>TheBigSpur</a></figcaption>
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<p>The Gamecocks face the Cowboys in Founders Park this weekend with a trip to Omaha on the line</p> <p>The Columbia Regional was a little more exciting than the Gamecocks hoped it would be coming in, but South Carolina ultimately emerged victorious after a very long weekend. After an ugly opening loss, the Gamecocks made a run through the losers bracket, winning 4 elimination games to advance to the Super Regionals. Carolina is just the 20th team since the current tournament format began in 1999 to win a Regional after losing their first game. To make things ever better, Oklahoma State won the Clemson Regional, giving the Gamecocks the opportunity to host the Cowboys this weekend instead of traveling to Clemson to face the Tigers.</p>
<p>The Cowboys and the Gamecocks have not faced each other often, and Carolina lost the three previous meetings between the teams, all of which occurred in the College World Series. The three games (in 1981, 1982 and 1985) were during a period of sustained success for the Cowboys, as they made the CWS each year from 1981-1987 and finished as runner-up twice. Though the Cowboys haven't been to the CWS since 1999 and their lone national title came in 1959, they're 6th all-time in both appearances in the CWS and wins in the CWS.</p>
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<td></td>
<td>South Carolina</td>
<td>Oklahoma State</td>
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<tr>
<td>Batting Average</td>
<td>.293</td>
<td>.268</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>On-Base %</td>
<td>.384</td>
<td>.366</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slugging %</td>
<td>.417</td>
<td>.402</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ERA</td>
<td>3.28</td>
<td>3.34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio</td>
<td>2.89</td>
<td>2.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fielding %</td>
<td>.978</td>
<td>.978</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>Oklahoma State is 39-20 (16-8 Big 12) and finished second in their conference behind national seed Texas Tech. The Cowboys were the #2 seed in the Clemson Regional and went 3-0 last weekend, defeating Nebraska once and Clemson twice to advance to Super Regionals. The Oklahoma State pitching staff was excellent in the Regional round, shutting out Nebraska and allowing just four total runs in two games against Clemson. In addition to a good pitching staff, the Cowboys have a great defensive team. The offense hasn't always been there for the Cowboys this season, but they've hit well over the last couple of weeks and may be hitting their stride at the right time.</p>
<p>South Carolina's pitching staff was also impressive in the Regional round, though in a very different way than Oklahoma State's staff. Even with starts from Clarke Schmidt and Braden Webb that were not up to their usual standard, the Carolina pitching staff managed to successfully get through five games in five days. One of the most challenging things about the NCAA tournament, particularly when a team has to play extra games due to a loss, is the way that pitching depth is taxed. It was encouraging to see the Gamecocks successfully navigate that test this weekend and it's not hard to feel good about the options that the Gamecocks have on the mound as they head into the Super Regional round.</p>
<p>The offense has been the biggest cause for concern for the Gamecocks this season, but their performance in the Regional, particularly in the last three games, made it look like they may have finally figured things out. Of course, this is not the first time this season that the offense seems to have "finally figured it out" and the question of whether they actually did will be answered pretty quickly. The Gamecocks scored a lot of runs over the weekend, but they'll be facing better pitching from this Oklahoma State team than they did for much of the Columbia Regional. The good news is that the Gamecocks got more contributions from throughout the lineup and from unlikely players than they have all season, and the confidence they probably gained from the offensive surge over the weekend will continue to benefit them even against stronger pitching.</p>
<p>Oklahoma State won't be an easy team to beat this weekend, but the Gamecocks are a force to be reckoned with too and they'll have the benefit of a strong home crowd behind them as the two teams fight for a chance to go the College World Series.</p>
<p><i>You can find all the info you need going into Super Regional weekend and full coverage of South Carolina's games <a href="http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/7/11879602/south-carolina-oklahoma-state-super-regionals-2016-ncaa-baseball-tournament" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></p>
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https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/10/11900418/2016-ncaa-baseball-tournament-super-regional-preview-south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboysKaci B2016-06-10T11:25:25-04:002016-06-10T11:25:25-04:00Let’s meet the Cowboys: Q&A With Cowboys Ride For Free
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<p>We get the inside scoop on the Cowboys and what they bring to the table.</p> <p id="EvNWZN">While Super Regional play will begin for many teams today, South Carolina and Oklahoma State will lock horns starting tomorrow thanks to the Gamecocks’ regional final being delayed earlier this week. The Cowboys, of course, are coming off a victory over Clemson in the Tigers’ regional and are playing in their second Super Regional since 2014. For the Gamecocks, they are in for the first time since 2013, the last of four straight Super Regional appearances.</p>
<p id="pbE6fQ">So who are these Cowboys, anyway? We caught up with Cade Webb, the manager of our sister site Cowboys Ride For Free (SB Nation’s Oklahoma State blog), to get some answers and insight.</p>
<p id="ydashb"><strong>This is the Cowboys' second Super Regional in four seasons. As someone who's seen more of the team than we have, what have been the keys to their success?</strong></p>
<p id="Oe1MBs">With Oklahoma State, the majority of the success this season has been built on the defense and pitching. OSU is very solid defensively, and has Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Thomas Hatch to boot. Jensen Elliott is a true freshman, but has been pitching especially well of late, going six full innings against Clemson with eight strikeouts. If OSU is going to succeed in this super regional, it's going to be because they got good pitching and solid defense. When the bats come alive for OSU, they are a very tough team to beat. That's how they dominated Clemson 20-4 over two games.</p>
<p id="Ud5jzF"><strong>This team struggled a little bit out of the gate (going 2-5 to start the season) but appeared to have really hit their stride once they hit April. What were some of the things that you saw that changed from the beginning of the season in March to where they are now?</strong></p>
<p id="AjGkXj">The 2-5 start, while unimpressive and disappointing, did include three walk off losses on the road at North Carolina. So, while they did lose three straight, it could've been much better. That being said, I think the team just finally accepted their identity as a defense-first team. Their power at the plate isn't going to wow you, but they play small ball well, and they've accepted that. When they were able to finally figure out how they were going to win games, I think they gained more confidence as the season went on.</p>
<p id="HyjVKP"><strong>You have a pitcher in Thomas Hatch that came off of a partial UCL tear last year and ended up pitching an All-American season. How has he been able to bounce back and get himself to a point where he's a valuable arm for this pitching rotation?</strong></p>
<p id="OHwkA4">Thomas Hatch has bounced back admirably. You really can't say enough about what he's done to get back to the level he was at before a fairly serious baseball injury. It takes a lot of determination and skill to be able to bounce back like that. He is what makes the engine go. He tossed a shutout in the win over Nebraska in the regional, and it looks as if he will get the mound on Friday. Expect to see a fiery performance from him.</p>
<p id="NXv7EA"><strong>Can you tell us about the overall makeup of the Big 12? Most years, it's been Texas at or near the top of that league, but here we are with all three teams that made it to regionals (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and TCU) heading into Super Regionals this weekend. Where does the Big 12 stack up when it comes to other conferences nationally?</strong></p>
<p id="2zyuxC">The term you could use to best describe the Big 12 is "top heavy." While there are teams in OU, West Virginia, and Texas who certainly can jump up and beat you any day, the talent level is just too large between the first and second tier teams. You could make the argument that West Virginia should have made a regional as well. That being said, you look at the talent on the teams you mentioned and all of them have multiple All Americans. It's a talent thing with the Big 12. Compared to other conferences, you can see how they stack up by just looking at the teams in the super regionals. The SEC has five teams, the ACC has four, and the Big 12 has three. Both of those conferences are much larger than the Big 12, as the Big 12 only has nine teams total. That being said, the SEC and ACC are always going to have perennial power teams, and will always be among the best in baseball.</p>
https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/south-carolina-baseball/2016/6/10/11900850/south-carolina-gamecocks-oklahoma-state-cowboys-2016-super-regional-ncaa-baseball-championshipSydney Hunte