The rain delay couldn’t wake up the Oklahoma bats as South Carolina cruised to a 5-1 win Monday to eliminate the Sooners and advance to the College World Series:

How the game was won: The Gamecocks executed out of the rain delay. The Sooners did not. OU first baseman Evan Mistich made an errant throw to third on a sacrifice bunt, allowing the Gamecocks to score their first run in the top of the seventh inning. South Carolina added another run on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the inning, meanwhile, OU’s Jack Mayfield was thrown out at third on a missed hit-and-run. After walking the first two batters, South Carolina was able to limit the damage to one run.

Play of the game: With OU trying to keep the deficit at one run in the eighth, South Carolina’s Tanner English laid down a gorgeous bunt between the pitcher and first baseman with two outs. Mayfield couldn’t make a play to first, and Adam Matthews scored from third to put the Gamecocks 3-1. OU was clearly deflated by the bunt, and gave up two more runs in the inning.

Player of the game: Jonathan Gray pitched six brilliant innings Sunday before the rain delay. Gray struck out nine batters and allowed only three hits. Who knows what would have happened had the game not been delayed a day and Gray had been able to continue pitching?

Stat of the game: The Gamecocks have now won 21 straight NCAA tournament games dating back to 2010.
What it means: Considering their postseason hopes were on the brink with two weeks left in the regular season, the Sooners made quite the run. South Carolina is making a run of historic proportions and will be one of the favorites again in Omaha.