Thomas' single gives Gamecocks 3-2 win in 12th inning

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Brady Thomas singled in the winning run in the 12th inning and South Carolina eliminated Oklahoma from the College World Series with a 3-2 victory Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (50-16) were down to their last strike against closer Ryan Duke when Jackie Bradley's full-count base hit past first baseman Cameron Seitzer brought in Robert Beary from second to tie it.

Duke walked Jeffery Jones before Thomas drove his first pitch into center field, scoring Bradley from second and touching off a celebration in the middle of the infield.

Oklahoma (50-18) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 12th on Tyler Ogle's homer off Ethan Carter.

Tyler Webb (3-2), the Gamecocks' sixth pitcher, got the win after relieving Carter. Duke (3-2) took the loss.

South Carolina will play in-state rival Clemson in the Bracket 2 final tonight. The Gamecocks have to beat Clemson twice to reach the best-of-three championship round.

South Carolina starter Blake Cooper was almost as impressive as Neal, allowing a run on four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Ogle's blast in the 12th, which barely cleared the wall in right center, came after the Sooners were held scoreless for nine straight innings.

Carter came on in the 12th for South Carolina after Matt Price struck out five in three scoreless innings. Ogle sent out Carter's second pitch, just beyond the reach of Bradley in center field.

Bradley, batting a team-leading .380 with homers, including two in Omaha, was 0 for 5 when he came up in the 12th. He was down to his last strike when he hit a hard shot into right field. He raised his right arm and pumped his fist while running to first, then pounded his chest three times after rounding the base.

Thomas also was 0 for 5 when he came up. He had struck out twice and fouled out on a bad bunt try in his previous at-bat, but he drilled Duke's first offering into center field, where Chris Ellison bobbled the ball and didn't even try to throw home.

South Carolina starter Blake Cooper was almost as impressive as Neal, allowing a run on four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Neal retired 14 in a row after Evan Marzilli singled leading off the bottom of the first. He allowed a run on five hits and a walk, and he struck out seven.

The Gamecocks threatened three times before breaking through in the eighth. In the first, Marzilli stole second and took third on a throwing error with one out, but Neal got Bradley to foul out and Christian Walker to fly out. In the fifth they loaded the bases with two out, but Marzilli fouled out. South Carolina had a man in scoring position with one out in the seventh, but Neal struck out Haney and Beary.

Marzilli doubled off the wall in left center to lead off the eighth, chasing Neal and bringing on Jeremy Erben. Marzilli moved over on a bunt before Walker chopped a grounder between third base and short for the tying run.