Become a fan of WPDE Sports on Facebook for Gamecocks, Clemson, CCU and high school sports updates
Local products Colby Holmes and John Taylor combined for eight and 2/3 strong innings and the defending national champs used a three run first inning to spark a 7-1 win over Virginia on Tuesday night at the College World Series in Omaha. South Carolina will play the winner of Virginia and Cal on Friday night and are one win away from reaching the national championship series for a second consecutive year.
South Carolina jumped out to a fast start in the top of the first inning. After two quick outs, Christian Walker reached on an error at third base to spark a three run outburst. Jackie Bradley, Junior laced a double to right center field, his first RBI since April to make it a 1-0 game. Ray Tanner went with a hunch and put the Virginia native in the cleanup spot and it paid off right away. Adrian Morales followed with a bloop over the first baseman's head that scored Bradley as Morales went to third on a throwing error. The three run frame was capped off when Brady Thomas launched a shot to deep center field for an RBI double to score Morales.
The Gamecocks padded their lead to 4-0 in the top of the 4th with a 2 out Peter Mooney RBI single. Following a Jake Williams triple, Evan Marzilli answered with an RBI double to make it a 5-0 game. That chased Virginia starter Will Roberts. Reliever Cody Winiarski was rudely welcomed with a Christian Walker RBI double down the third base line to make it 6-0 Gamecocks.
Conway native Colby Holmes looked sharp in his first College World Series start striking out two Cavaliers in the first inning and throwing three scoreless frames before the Cavaliers got on the board with a solo home run by John Hicks. With Virginia loading the bases with one out in the 5th, Holmes exited and Florence's John Taylor got a critical double play to keep it a 6-1 game through five innings.
Taylor was outstanding on the hill throwing four and a third innings of scoreless baseball to pick up the win. Closer Matt Price came on to record the final out.
NCAA.com: South Carolina 7 Virginia 1
