Play of the game: Jackie Bradley Jr. launched a three-run homer to left-center, doubling South Carolina's lead to 6-0 in the second inning.
Star of the game: Bradley was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and is 5 for 8 with two homers and six RBIs through two games at the CWS.
Quirky moment: Bradley appeared to be hit by a pitch near the right wrist with the bases loaded in the third and started toward first base. Home-plate umpire David Savage called him back, apparently thinking the ball had hit the bat or his hand, considered a part of the bat. All four umpires then huddled, and eventually Bradley was awarded first base.
Quirky moment II: In the sixth, Arizona State's Riccio Torrez had an inside pitch graze off his right elbow and started toward first before being called back by Savage. Torrez then showed Savage the spot on his arm where the ball had made contact and Savage reversed the call, sending Torrez to first.
Defining moment: Adrian Morales clanged a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole to cap the Gamecocks' eight-run second inning, putting this one out of reach.
Our take: Maybe Sunday's rain delay that forced South Carolina to pull ace Blake Cooper will turn out to be a blessing. Cooper, who threw just 67 pitches that night, is expected to be available in some capacity, possibly as a starter, in Thursday's elimination game. That will help a Gamecocks staff that has had Cooper, Sam Dyson or closer Matt Price on the mound for 45.8 percent of the team's innings.
— Rob White
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