Columbia Regional MVP Robert Beary celebrating the Gamecocks win with USC closer Matt Price.
/ Sara Jane Harris
COLUMBIA (WACH) – South Carolina clinched its second consecutive regional title on Monday afternoon, beating Stetson 8-2 at Carolina Stadium.
The Gamecocks (48-14) will advance to the NCAA Super Regional for the second consecutive year and will face the winner of Monday night’s game between Clemson and Connecticut, which is taking place at Clemson.
Stetson ended its 2011 season with a 43-20 record.
The championship game began at 7 p.m. on Sunday but did not end until mid-afternoon on Monday after a severe thunderstorm postponed the game.
The storm knocked the power out at Carolina Stadium and almost ripped the tarp off the infield.
Crews from South Carolina Electric & Gas had to cut a fallen tree out of power lines behind the left-field bleachers where many game day staffers and media were parked.
Power was restored around 1 a.m. and the Carolina Stadium maintenance and facilities staff worked through the night to clean up debris and damage.
As a result, the stadium looked no worse for wear when gates opened at 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Scott Wingo and Christian Walker led the Gamecock offensive effort as both went 3-for-4 and combined to score three runs on the day.
The NCAA will announce dates, sites, times and television information for next week’s Super Regionals at midnight ET.
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