Omaha, NE – Erik Payne smacked a bases-loaded three-run triple as part of a Gamecock five-run top of the fifth inning as South Carolina extended its postseason winning streak to 22 games with a 7-3 triumph over the top-ranked Florida Gators in Game 4 of the College World Series.
LB Dantzler registered two hits to go with an RBI and run scored, Chase Vergason had two hits and an RBI while Evan Marzilli and Christian Walker added two hits and a run scored apiece for the two-time defending College World Series champs.
Michael Roth surrendered three runs on seven hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings to record the win.
Gators starter Brian Johnson was touched for five runs on eight hits and three walks in the setback.
Preston Tucker had a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the third to stake Florida a 2-0 lead, but the Gamecocks used their five-run fifth to surge ahead.
With no outs and the bases loaded, Payne laced a bases-clearing triple into the gap in right-center. Dantzler then cracked an RBI double to deep center and Chase Vergason poked a run-scoring base hit two batters later for a 5-2 South Carolina advantage.
Florida got a run back in the home half on Mike Zunino's sacrifice fly, trimming the deficit to 5-3, but South Carolina added two insurance runs in the ninth.
Walker crossed the plate on a wild pitch and a bit later, with runners on second and third with two outs, Vickash Ramjit committed a throwing error after handling a Vergason grounder at first, allowing a run to score to make it 7-3.
Earlier on Saturday, DJ Baxendale spun 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, propelling Arkansas to an 8-1 victory over Kent State in Game 3 of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
Baxendale gave up his first hit with two outs in the fifth and only allowed three base hits overall. The right-hander walked one and struck out five to earn the victory. Brandon Moore notched the save with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Jake Wise belted a solo homer and knocked in three runs, while Matt Vinson plated a pair as Arkansas improved to 10-12 all-time in the College World Series.
The third-seeded Golden Flashes got 5 2/3 innings from starter David Starn, who gave up five runs on six hits and six walks.
Kent State finished with just four hits as a team, including a solo shot from Jimmy Rider.
The Razorbacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on a trio of walks before Brian Anderson ripped an RBI single back up the middle that knocked the glove off of Starns' hand and trickled through the infield.
Arkansas tacked on a run in the second when Wise launched a two-out homer over the wall in left field and pressed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Wise walked to start the frame and scored on Joe Serrano's RBI single to center.
Rider clubbed a two-out homer in the top of the sixth to get the Golden Flashes on the board, but Vinson's two-run double in the bottom half increased the Arkansas lead to 5-1 before Wise plated two more with a single in the eighth to account for the final margin.
The Razorbacks are making their seventh appearance in Omaha and third under head coach Dave Van Horn. Kent State, meanwhile, has never been to the College World Series before and must now win out if they wish to continue their run.
Arkansas will face South Carolina on Monday while Florida and Kent State will clash in the loser's bracket, also on Monday.
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