There are some crazy amazing statistics that I’ve come across over the last few days out here. Wanted to pass a few of them along. I also didn’t come up with most of them. A healthy number are from the NCAA, some are from the voice of the Gamecocks Andy Demetra, and a few are just randoms that are floating around out there.
- In the 2012 College World Series, the team that scores first is 10-3. South Carolina owns all three comeback wins.
- The Gamecocks have now won seven consecutive CWS elimination games, dating back to an 11-4 win over Arizona State in 2010.
- In 2012, the Gamecocks are 42-1 when leading after 8 innings.
- South Carolina’s pitching staff has an ERA of 1.71 in the postseason, including an 0.86 mark by the bullpen.
- The Gamecocks have not given up more than 4 runs in a CWS game since June 22, 2004, a stretch of 19 consecutive games.
- USC will look to become the first team since the 1982 Miami squad to complete its CWS showing without giving up more than 4 runs in any NCAA Tournament game.
- The Gamecocks have played in a record 28 one-run games this year, compiling a 15-13 mark.
- With his win last night, Matt Price now holds the all-time record for CWS wins with five. He broke a tie with ten other pitchers and is currently in sole possession of the record. Michael Roth is among those tied with four.
- Matt Price’s career ERA at the CWS in 0.36, which is third all-time. In his 24 2/3 innings pitched, he’s allowed one extra-base hit, struck out 33 batters, and holds an active scoreless innings streak of 18 2/3.
- Christian Walker’s career batting average at the CWS is .382. He has 26 all-time hits in Omaha, second all-time to Dustin Ackley’s 28. He is also five at-bats shy of the all-time record of 73.
- Tyler Webb is tied for second place all-time at USC in appearances with 38, trailing only John Taylor’s 50 appearances from a season ago. In 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, he is holding opponents to a .111 batting average. He is also the first pitcher since 1997 to have two separate CWS relief outings of more than four innings in which he didn’t allow a run.
- Carolina hitters coaxed five walks from Arkansas starter D.J. Baxendale, a career high. As a staff, Arkansas walked 9 Gamecocks, the most in a CWS game since 2009.
- Tyler Webb and Matt Price have pitched in the same NCAA Tournament game nine times in their career. In those appearances, they’ve combined for 33 innings pitched. And one earned run.
- Last night was the fifth time South Carolina has erased a two-run deficit to win an NCAA Tournament game in the last three years.
- Since national seeds were established with the expansion of the NCAA Tournament field in 1999, no No. 8 seed has won a national championship. South Carolina is looking to become the first. Arizona is unseeded, looking to become the first unseeded team to win the CWS since South Carolina did in 2010 and the seventh team overall.
- Arizona enters the championship series on a nine-game winning streak, which spans all of their NCAA Tournament games. They have also won 16 of their past 18 games.
- South Carolina owns two national championships (2010, 2011) and three second-place finishes (1975, 1977, 2002). The Wildcats have three national championships (1976, 1980, 1986). They were national runners-up in 1956, 1959, and 1963.
- The SEC currently has 9 national championships (Georgia – 1990; LSU – 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009; South Carolina – 2010, 2011). The current members of the Pac-12 have 26 national championships (California – 1947, 1957; Southern Cal – 1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1998; Arizona State – 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981; Arizona – 1976, 1980, 1986; Stanford – 1987, 1988; Oregon State – 2006, 2007).
- Arizona has made 16 CWS appearances all-time and has compiled a 36-27 record.
- Wildcats head coach Andy Lopez won the 1992 CWS as the coach of Pepperdine. He also took Florida to the College World Series during his tenure as head coach there. He can join the legendary Augie Garrido as the only coaches to win CWS titles with two different teams. Garrido accomplished the feat at Cal State Fullerton and Texas.
- Arizona is 17-0 when scoring more than 10 runs in a game this season. South Carolina has only reached the 10-run plateau five times.
- Arizona scored six runs in the first inning against Florida State on Thursday, becoming the first team to score six or more runs in the first inning of a CWS game since South Carolina did in an 11-10 win over LSU in 2003.
- Wildcats pitcher Kurt Heyer leads the nation with 13 victories on the season and leads the NCAA in innings pitched with 153.
- Arizona left 15 runners on base in their 10-3 victory over Florida State on Thursday.
