S. Carolina to play Texas for title

OMAHA, Neb. -- Now South Carolina gets to play in the ultimate elimination game.

The Gamecocks clinched a spot in the College World Series championship by beating state rival Clemson 10-2 Friday, one week after opening the tournament with an 11-0 loss to Georgia Tech.

"We like the city of Omaha and after we didn't open very well we were doing our best to extend our stay," coach Ray Tanner said. "We battled back the hard way and now we get a chance to play in the national championship game. It's a tremendous feeling."

The Gamecocks (57-17) beat their state rivals for the second time in three days and won their fourth straight elimination game. South Carolina will play Texas (56-15) for the national title today in a rematch of the 1975 championship, which Texas won 5-1.

Steven Bondurant scattered eight hits in going the distance. South Carolina's last four hitters -- Garris Gonce, Brian Buscher, Landon Powell and Kevin Melillo -- combined to go 9-for-18 with nine RBIs.