Associated Press
ATHENS, Ga. ó Trevor Holder pitched a career-high 82/3 innings and Georgia’s offense was overpowering Friday as the Bulldogs beat North Carolina State 11-4 in a NCAA Super Regional.
With a victory over the Wolfpack on Saturday, Georgia would win the best-of-three series and advance to the College World Series for the third time in five years
The Bulldogs have gone on a five-game winning streak since losing 10-7 to Lipscomb on May 30.
Holder (8-4) allowed four runs ó two earned ó and seven hits before leaving to a standing ovation.
Rich Poythress scored the go-ahead run on right fielder Matt Payne’s throwing error, making it 3-2 in the third.
Gordon Beckham, drafted No. 8 overall by the Chicago White Sox and the Southeastern Conference player of the year, had two RBIs for Georiga. Joey Lewis and Miles Starr also drove in two runs each for the Bulldogs.
Clayton Shunick (7-6) allowed eight hits, three walks and struck out six in 51/3 innings. The right-hander’s eight earned runs were the most in two years at N.C. State.
After giving up just two earned runs in his last three starts against Florida State, Clemson and South Carolina, Shunick was chased when Lyle Allen’s RBI double made it 7-2.
The first batter that reliever Drew Taylor faced, pinch-hitter Joey Lewis, hit a two-run homer that gave the Bulldogs a 9-2 lead.
Wichita St. 10, FSU 7
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ó Wichita State (48-15) came through with clutch hits during a three-inning, mid-game scoring flurry to defeat Florida State 10-7 in the NCAA Super Regional opener.Florida State (52-12), the No. 4 national seed, is facing elimination for the second consecutive week following the first game of a postseason tourney.
Arizona 6, Miami 3, 11 inningsCORAL GABLES, Fla. ó Jon Gaston hit a three-run home run in the top of the 11th as Arizona defeated Miami 6-3 in the opening game of their Super Regional on Friday.
Gaston, a seventh-round draft choice by the Houston Astros earlier Friday, drove Miami reliever Carlos Gutierrez’s 1-1 pitch over the fence in right field for his 12th home run of the season.