The Kent State Golden Flashes just couldn't keep their thrilling run alive on Thursday, falling to South Carolina in an elimination game. The game ended 4-1 in South Carolina's favor as Michael Roth pitched a two-hitter to stem the Flashes and their strong run.
Their run included a 5-4 win over the No. 1-seeded Florida Gators and three SEC opponent victims in total. But they ran into South Carolina, who had won 22-straight postseason games prior to falling to Arkansas and being put into this elimination matchup. South Carolina will now go on to take on Arkansas again on Thursday night as part of a double header due to the rain-out on Wednesday.
Grayson Greiner and Chase Vergason hit RBI singles in the second inning to take the 2-1 lead the Gamecocks would not relinquish. LB Dantzler hit a homerun in the third inning against Tyler Skulina to put the Gamecocks up 3-1. In the second inning, Sawyer Polen had an RBI single for the Golden Flashes, but after that point, Roth struck out eight batters without walking anyone. Roth was as advertised, retiring the final 22 batters he faced in order on his way to the third complete game of his career.
It was a dominating performance by Roth. Had he been even slightly off, Kent State may have been able to extend their strong postseason play. In its first College World Series appearance, Kent State finished with a 1-2 record.
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