Oklahoma State pitchers shackle Gamecocks in Super Regional opener
South Carolina discovered Saturday the Oklahoma State pitching staff is as good as advertised.
Shackled all game long by Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Thomas Hatch and two Cowboy relievers, the Gamecocks managed just six hits, five of them singles, in a 5-1 loss to the Cowboys in Game 1 of the Super Regional Saturday afternoon in front of a sun-scorched crowd of 7,840 fans at Founders Park.
Bolstered by Hatch’s second straight scoreless seven-inning outing in the NCAA Tourney, Oklahoma State has allowed just five runs in four NCAA Tournament games.
Hatch, a third round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs, threw seven scoreless innings against Nebraska last weekend in the Clemson Regional and duplicated the feat Saturday, running his overall scoreless streak to 17 innings.
“They are on a roll and they do things a lot like we do in regards to trying to make it difficult for the opponent to score by pitching and playing defense,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said in the post-game press conference. “They did that better than we did today. They are as good of a pitching staff and defensive team as we have played all year. It’s hard to score against teams that pitch well and play great defense. They don’t give you anything. You have to earn it.”
The Gamecocks face their fifth elimination game of the NCAA Tournament Sunday as they must now beat Oklahoma State twice in two days, including a possible winner-take-all game Monday.
Bypassed for Game 1 in favor of Webb, sophomore RHP Clarke Schmidt (9-4, 3.33 ERA in 105.1 IP) is expected to get the ball for the Gamecocks in a must-win situation. He will be opposed by OSU junior RHP Tyler Buffett (7-3, 3.34 ERA in 67.1 IP), who has a team high 34 appearances in 2016.
After retiring the first six OSU batters, Webb’s encouraging start Saturday ended when Ryan Sluder led off the top of the 3rd by whacking a low pitch over the left field well for a solo homer to give the Cowboys a 1—0 lead.
It was just the sixth HR (and 19th extra-base hit) allowed this season by Webb in 96.1 IP, one every 16 innings.
With two outs, Webb plunked OSU’s leadoff batter J.R. Davis, a mistake that proved costly when Davis advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a sharp single through the middle by Corey Hassel.
The next runs by either team came in the top of the ninth. USC starter and hard luck loser Braden Webb worked 7.2 productive innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out five and walking two.
“Braden threw great,” Holbrook said. “He kept us in the game and gave us a chance. He did everything we asked him to do.”
Relievers Reed Scott and Taylor Widener each worked two-thirds of an inning. Widener surrendered a three-run homer in the top of the ninth that provided the Cowboys with a comfortable cushion going to the bottom of the ninth.
“We pitched well,” Holbrook said. “It was a tight game in the ninth inning and we felt we had a chance. It was just (Oklahoma State’s) day today.”
Moments after thwarting an attempted steal of home by Oklahoma State to end the top of the fourth, USC had a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning when Cone and Hopkins led off with consecutive singles, the first two hits off Hatch.
But DTW popped up to third base in foul territory, giving Hatch a key first out without the Gamecock runners advancing. After Destino swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch for the second out, Bride hit a sharp grounder towards the middle that ricocheted off the Oklahoma State shortstop into short center.
The ball was grabbed by the OSU second baseman and he fired home to nail Cone, who stormed around third and got the green light from Gamecock third base coach Sammy Esposito. USC collected three singles in the inning but were held off the scoreboard.
“We didn’t capitalize on some opportunities and that was ultimately the difference in the game,” Holbrook said. “(On the play in the fourth inning) Coach Esposito just thought the ball was a little bit farther in the outfield than it was. It was a tough angle and a tough read when the ball caromed off the shortstop.
“You see it heading towards the outfield. You have to make a split-second decision. The second baseman for them made a heads up play. You hate to make the third out at home, but if you have a chance to score, you hate to hold him up because opportunities are few and far between (against a team like OSU).”
Because runs against Oklahoma State are a precious commodity, Holbrook lamented the first-and-second, no out opportunity wasted by the Gamecocks in the bottom of the fourth.
“We could have changed the complexion of the game right there,” Holbrook said. “But we were facing an awfully good pitcher. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the opponent.”
Next turning point for the Gamecocks offense came in the bottom of the eighth when Oklahoma State, ahead by two runs, pulled Hatch and brought in reliever Garrett Williams. He walked Arendas on four pitches to bring the tying run to the plate and was quickly yanked in favor of Trey Cobb, who retired the next three batters.
Cobb keeping the Gamecocks off the scoreboard paid dividends in the top of the ninth when catcher Collin Theroux, batting a lowly .161 entering the game, cranked a three-run homer into the left field stands off Taylor Widener to give OSU a comfortable 5-0 lead.
DTW spoiled Oklahoma State’s hopes for a shutout in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff solo homer. After walking Destino, Cobb fanned two of the final three Gamecocks hitters to officially put USC into a 1-0 hole.
The Gamecocks beat the odds in the Regional as very few teams win four straight games after dropping the tournament opener. Can they do the same in the Super Regional?
“I don’t know how tomorrow will go, but we have an opportunity to play two more games at Founders Park with a chance to go to the College World Series,” Holbrook said. “Sign me up. We have an opportunity in front of us. It’s not time to tuck our head between our tails and cry. If we play 18 innings of great baseball, who knows what will happen?” Hopefully, our players will have that attitude.”
LINESCORE
OSU (40-20): 002 000 003 = 5-8-0
USC (46-17): 000 000 001 = 1-6-0
WP – Thomas Hatch (8-2)
LP – Braden Webb (10-6)
SV – Trey Cobb (4)
HR – OSU, Ryan Sluder (3rd, none on), Collin Theroux (9th, two on); USC, Dom Thompson Williams (9th, none on).
RBI – DTW (1)
LOB – USC 7, OSU 6
A – 7,840
Time – 2:56.
Gamecock Pitchers: Braden Webb (7.2 IP, 110 pitches), Reed Scott (0.2 IP, 6 pitches), Taylor Widener (0.2, 18 pitches).
HOW THE RUNS SCORED:
OSU 3rd - Sluder homered to left (RBI), Littell flied out to right, Theroux struck out swinging, Davis hit by pitch, Davis advanced to second on passed ball, Hassel singled up the middle (RBI), Hassel stole second, Walton grounded to first. 2 RUNS, 2 HITS (OSU 2-0).
OSU 9th – Williams singled to right, Sluder sacrificed (3-4), <Widener for Scott>, Littell walked, Theroux homered to left (3 RBI), Davis struck out swinging, Hassel struck out swinging, 3 RUNS, 2 HITS (OSU 5-0).
USC 9th – DTW homered to left (RBI), Destino walked, Bride flied to center, Stokes struckout looking, Jones (PH) singled to right, Arendas struckout looking. 1 RUN, 2 HITS (OSU 5-1). GAME OVER.
