OMAHA, Neb. — Clemson kept waiting for the Pacific-10 Pitcher of the Year to throw the ball over the plate. When he did, the Tigers were ready.
The Tigers roughed up previously unbeaten Arizona State ace Seth Blair and got strong performances from Casey Harman and Alex Frederick to stop the No. 1 national seed Sun Devils 6-3 Monday in the College World Series.
Clemson (44-23) is the only non-No. 1 regional seed to make it to Omaha, and had to stave off elimination three times to get this far. Now the Tigers find themselves in the winners’ bracket, needing a victory over Oklahoma today to gain control of Bracket 2.
“Just because we’re in the winners’ bracket doesn’t mean the tournament is over,” Coach Jack Leggett said. “We have to play Oklahoma, which is feeling as good as we’re feeling right now.”
The Sun Devils (52-9), who haven’t lost consecutive games this season, will meet South Carolina in an elimination game today.
Blair (12-1), taken 46th overall by St. Louis in the recent major league draft, walked four of the first 12 batters he faced. He finished with a career-high 5 walks, and was tagged for 5 runs and 7 hits in 4 1 /3 innings.
FLORIDA ST. 8, FLORIDA 5
OMAHA, Neb. - Mike McGee hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the third inning and picked up the save to lead Florida State past Florida.
The Seminoles (48-19) will play Wednesday night against TCU. The Gators (47-17) lost for the fourth time in five meetings this season with their Sunshine State rival.
Florida, trailing 8-2 in the ninth, loaded the bases against Daniel Bennett. Preston Tucker doubled into the right field corner to drive in three runs.
McGee, who was playing left field, came on and gave up a single to Austin Maddox and hit Matt den Dekker, loading the bases with one out. Shortstop Stephen Cardullo caught Mike Zunino’s line drive and flipped to second baseman Devon Travis for a game-ending double play.
It was McGee’s 13th save.
UCLA 6, TCU 3
OMAHA, Neb. - Gerrit Cole struck out 13 and carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning, and Cody Regis and Jeff Gelalich homered to lead UCLA past TCU in a winners’ bracket game.
The victory gives UCLA control of Bracket 1 and three days off.
The Bruins (50-14) went ahead 5-0 in the third inning on Regis and Gelalich’s home runs against TCU starter Kyle Winkler (12-2).
The Horned Frogs (52-13), who came into the game hitting a CWS-best .341, scored three runs on four hits in the seventh inning off Cole (11-3). Dan Klein pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
College World Series at a glance At Rosenblatt Stadium Omaha, Neb.
All Times Central Double Elimination x-if necessary SUNDAY’S GAMES Oklahoma 4, South Carolina 3 Arizona State vs. Clemson, ppd., weather MONDAY’S GAMES Clemson 6, Arizona State 3 Florida State 8, Florida 5, Florida eliminated GAME 6 UCLA 6, TCU 3 TODAY’S GAMES GAME 7 South Carolina (48-16) vs. Arizona State (52-9), 3:30 p.m.
GAME 8 Oklahoma (50-16) vs. Clemson (44-23), 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME GAME 9 - Florida State (48-19) vs. TCU (49-15), 6 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAME Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 6 p.m.
Sports, Pages 18 on 06/22/2010