Arizona advances; S. Carolina ousts Kent St.

Associated Press

Posted: June 23, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. - Arizona converted three errors into a six-run first inning and advanced to the College World Series finals with a 10-3 victory Thursday over Florida State at TD Ameritrade Park.

Freshman starter Brandon Leibrandt was pulled after he recorded just one out for the Seminoles, who used eight pitchers to tie a CWS record for a nine-inning game. Robert Refsnyder and Bobby Brown homered in a span of three at-bats in the fourth as the Wildcats built their lead to 10-1 on their way to their ninth straight win.

Kurt Heyer (13-2) worked 71/3 innings while taking the national lead for wins.

The Wildcats (46-17) advanced to the best-of-three final round and will play for their fourth national championship, first since 1986.

The Seminoles (50-17) were making their 21st appearance in Omaha and no other team has played in the CWS as many times without winning a championship.

Roth ousts Kent State

In eliminating upstart Kent State, South Carolina's Michael Roth offered yet another example of why he's one of the most dominant pitchers ever at this event. Roth tossed a two-hitter, retiring the last 22 batters he faced, on the way to a 4-1 victory over the Golden Flashes.

"He is the biggest superstar our game has," Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said. "He just knows how to pitch."

Roth's performance advanced two-time defending national champion South Carolina (47-18) to a game against Arkansas late Thursday night that could decide which team advances to the championship round.

Kent State (47-20) finished 1-2 in its first CWS appearance.