South Carolina starting pitcher Michael Roth has thrown his final pitch in the College World Series.
The senior left-hander knew it was over, too. He’d just been visited by pitching coach Jerry Meyers. He almost got out of the inning on a double play, but he couldn’t squeeze a throw from shortstop Joey Pankake while covering first.
So Meyers came out for a mound visit, again. Roth’s day was done. The veteran ace stayed on the field until reliever Matt Price reached the mound. Roth gave the baseball to Price, then walked off the field to a standing ovation from most of the near-capacity crowd.
Roth pitched 6 2/3 innings Monday, allowing one run and three hits. He left with runners on first and third in the seventh, but Price got Brandon Dixon to foul out.
Roth has started a record eight career CWS games and thrown more innings (60 1/3) than any pitcher in the event’s history. Well done. Undoubtedly another CWS legend.
He’ll need some help from his teammates to extend his collegiate career one more day. Arizona still leads 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh.
