Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com (photos by Ryan Bethea)
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Oklahoma State is one win away from its first College World Series appearance in 17 years after posting a 5-1 victory over South Carolina on Saturday at Founders Park. Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Thomas Hatch threw seven shutout innings, and a pair of home runs was enough to notch the road win.
The Cowboys (40-20) used a two-run third inning and a three-run home run in the top of the ninth by catcher Collin Theroux to put away the Gamecocks (46-17), which became one of only 20 teams in the current format to lose the first game of a Regional and come back to advance.
The story on Saturday though was Hatch, who only encountered trouble once on the afternoon. He gave up only four hits, walked two and struck out three in his 94-pitch performance.
“We got excellent starting pitching from Thomas Hatch,” Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday said. “He’s been good all year. It was a combination of strike throwing, being down in the zone and great defense behind him. His confidence has grown throughout the year.”
While his confidence has grown throughout the year, Hatch’s performance in the opening game of the Super Regional was almost flawless in everyone’s eyes but his own. Despite a dominating performance, the junior, drafted in the third round by the Chicago Cubs, didn’t think he was at his best.
“I really didn’t have my A-stuff but for my team to be able to pick me up behind me was big,” Hatch said. “I was really tired, the crowd was loud but my team picked me up behind me and I was able to battle through it.”
The Cowboys jumped out to a 2-0 lead, which started in the third inning with a solo home run by Ryan Sluder off of South Carolina starting pitcher Braden Webb, a third-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers. Sluder drove a fastball over the left-field wall for his fourth home run of the season.
Infielder J.R. Davis scored the second run of the inning, which was unearned, when he came home on a single by Corey Hassel. Davis, who was hit by a pitch, moved into scoring position on a passed ball before being driven home.
South Carolina’s best chance to get to Hatch came in the fourth inning when Gene Cone and TJ Hopkins singled to begin the inning. A two-out single by Jonah Bride ricocheted off the shortstop, but it went straight to Davis at second base, who threw out Cone trying to come all the way around from second base to score. The throw was high, but Theroux was able to make the tag on Cone before he reached the plate.
“Really heads up play by J.R. to know that guy would be sending him,” Theroux said. “It’s a loud environment and you can’t hear [teammates], so it was a really heads up play by him and a really good throw right on the money.”
Hatch was able to get out of the inning, and the tying run wouldn’t reach base again for the Gamecocks.
“We couldn’t do enough against their pitchers today,” South Carolina coach Chad Holbrook said. “They were terrific. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to your opponent. That’s what we’re going to do today.”
Oklahoma State was able to get some breathing room in the ninth inning, which ended up being needed, when Theroux, the nine-hole hitter, launched a three-run home just inside the left field foul pole off South Carolina relief pitcher Taylor Widener.
South Carolina tried to mount a late rally as Dom Thompson-Williams began the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run. A walk and a single put the tying run in the on-deck circle, but relief pitcher Trey Cobb was able to notch his third save of the season by striking out DC Arendas to end the game.
Game 2 of the Super Regional is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday at Founders Park. The game will be broadcast on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.