OMAHA, Neb. — Caleb Bushyhead homered and drove in the winning run, and Jeremy Erben and Ryan Duke worked out of bases-loaded situations in the eighth inning to lead Oklahoma to a 4-3 victory over South Carolina in the rain-plagued College World Series on Sunday night.
The start of the game was delayed 4 hours, 15 minutes, and play was halted for an additional 2:01 by rain and lightning in the middle of the sixth inning.
Bushyhead homered to break a 1-1 tie in the second, and he singled into the rightfield corner to make it 3-2 in the fourth.
South Carolina was within a run after Duke walked Jackie Bradley on four pitches with the bases loaded in the ninth, but Duke got Adrian Morales to fly out to end the game for his 12th save.
Oklahoma plays the Clemson-Arizona State winner on Tuesday night, with South Carolina meeting the loser of that game Tuesday afternoon.
Garrett Bueschele gave South Carolina a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, hitting his team-leading 17th home run to deep left off reliever Jose Mata.
Oklahoma starter Michael Rocha (8-2) went six innings and gave up home runs to Christian Walker and Bradley. Erben came on after the second rain delay.
South Carolina starter Blake Cooper (12-2), eight days after his pitching hand was hit as he shielded himself from a foul ball, was sharp for five innings but left with his team behind 3-2 when the second rain delay came.
Sports, Pages 15 on 06/21/2010