Ain't life grand

Grand slam lifts South Carolina past Miami in Game 1

South Carolina has defending champion Miami one loss from elimination. AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Despite a game-breaking grand-slam, it was the little hit before that felt more important to Brian Buscher.

The third baseman, hitting .323 this year, has slumped to 1-of-23 his last five games. So he felt relief when his simple single slipped through the infield to drive in the first run of South Carolina's 10-7 victory over Miami in the NCAA super regional Friday night.

Buscher added a grand slam an inning later as the Gamecocks (52-15) led 10-0 and held on as Miami (33-28), the defending national champs, moved a game from elimination.

"The first one felt great, I added three more on to that," Buscher said. "But that first one felt pretty good."

South Carolina coach Ray Tanner had seen Buscher waste several run-scoring opportunities in the NCAA regional here last weekend. He told his first-year JUCO star to shrug it off and keep swinging the way he had been.

"I told him, 'Don't change anything. Let's go hacking. That's what got us here today,'" Tanner said. "That's what you saw tonight."

Buscher finished with four hits and five RBIs. It was his 14th homer -- and second grand slam -- of the season.

South Carolina first baseman Yaron Peters added his seventh homer of the NCAA tournament and 28th of the season.

The Gamecocks' lead would eventually grow to 10-0 before Miami, which has made the College World Series in seven of the past eight years, finally got going.

But four solo home runs -- including Danny Matienzo's 18th and 19th -- in the last six innings were too little for the Hurricanes, who must win games Saturday and Sunday to keep their season alive.

"We gave a good club too many runs early," said Miami coach Jim Morris, who has only missed the College World Series once in his previous eight seasons. "When that happens, it becomes difficult."

Still, the Hurricanes were within 10-7 on Matienzo's second homer with one in the ninth. South Carolina closer Blake Taylor, the nation's leader in saves, got the last two outs for his 21st of the year.

"I tell you, we never stopped battling," said Javy Rodriguez, who hit his sixth homer. "We came back strong. Our guys are always up for a challenge."

Miami's been down this road before, though, and found success.

The Hurricanes were under .500 on May 17 and weren't sure they'd get in the field of 64 until winning their last five regular-season games. Last week in the NCAA regional in Gainesville, Fla., they needed a three-run, bottom-of-the-ninth rally to beat Florida and reach this round of 16.

"We've been behind the eight-ball all year," Morris said. "I think we'll be ready."

South Carolina freshman Aaron Rawl (6-1) pitched 3 2-3 innings of relief for the victory.

Hurricane starter Kiki Bengochea (6-7) was 3-0 over his last four starts, but never had it here. He allowed seven runs and six hits in one inning.

"I think they just jumped on me early," Bengochea said. "And that's the way the ball rolls sometimes."

South Carolina has also been this close to a trip to Omaha and been denied. Two years ago, the Gamecocks were the tournament's top seed yet lost games two and three in the super regional at home to Louisiana-Lafayette. Last year, South Carolina dropped the decisive third game to Stanford, 3-2.

The Gamecocks have not been to the CWS since 1985.

Tanner acknowledged that Miami brings more prestige and tradition into Sarge Frye Field this weekend.

"But we're playing at home and this is a different path' for the Hurricanes," Tanner said. "And our guys are very confident in what they do."

 

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