Celebration Of Gamecocks Championship Win

An estimated 14 thousand fans packed Colonial Life Arena tonight, cheering on the champions--as they arrived home from Omaha.

There will be a parade Friday at noon in Columbia celebrating the win as well.

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It was déjà vu all over again for South Carolina Tuesday night as the Gamecocks captured their second consecutive College World Series championship with a 5-2 win over Florida at TD Ameritrade Park. 

The Gamecocks opened the first year at Omaha’s newest stadium the same way as they ended last year’s finale at Rosenblatt Stadium; by celebrating on the field after winning the national championship and securing a place in collegiate baseball lore. The Gamecocks became the first team since Oregon State in 2006-07 to repeat as champions and only the fifth school in history to do so, joining Texas, Southern California, Louisiana State and Oregon State.

The Gamecocks took the lead in the bottom of the third inning and never relinquished it.

Shortstop Peter Mooney led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line. After a sacrifice bunt by Robert Beary moved Mooney to third, rightfielder Evan Marzilli drew a walk from Florida starter Karsten Whitson, setting the stage for former Mauldin standout Scott Wingo to give the Gamecocks the lead.

Wingo, who was named the College World Series Most Valuable Players, delivered yet again. His sacrifice fly to rightfield allowed Mooney to score easily and gave South Carolina a 1-0 lead.

Karsten then proceeded to walk the next batter, Jackie Bradley Jr., to put runners on first and second with two out. Gamecock first baseman Christian Walker, who has been suffering from a wrist injury since last Friday, hit a hard ground ball to Gators shortstop Nolan Fontana, but Fonatana was unable to handle it and it ended up in centerfield. Marzilli scored from second for a 2-0 lead and Bradley advanced to third. One batter later, designated hitter Brady Thomas drove home Bradley with an infield single.

Former Riverside High standout Michael Roth, just three days removed from throwing 93 pitches against Virginia, pitched yet another gem.

Despite allowing a solo homerun by Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Mike Zunino in the top of the fourth inning, Roth had few problems.

Roth escaped a no out, runners on first and second situation in the top of the fifth when he struck out Gators third baseman Cody Dent who was attempting to bunt. He then managed initiate a double play, started by Wingo, to get out of the inning unscathed.

One inning later, the Gators threatened again.

Roth hit Fontana to leadoff the inning and then allowed a single to Zunino. Roth then struck out the next batter and then got Josh Adams to ground out to third base for the second out. With runners lurking on second and third, Roth managed to get Daniel Pigott to groundout to second to end the threat.

Roth pitched 7 2/3 innings and only allowed two runs on five hits. Matt Price, who has won two games and saved another for the Gamecocks during the World Series, came on to get the final four outs and claim his second save of the series.  

Mooney added a solo homerun, the first one the Gamecocks have hit in the College World Series, in the bottom of the sixth and the Gamecocks added another run in the bottom of the eighth.