Arizona wins series opener

June 25, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

OMAHA, NEB.

Konner Wade threw his third straight complete game, Robert Refsnyder homered for the second game in a row and Arizona beat two-time defending national champion South Carolina 5-1 in the opener of the College World Series finals Sunday night.

Wade (11-3) limited the Gamecocks to six hits in a steady outing to help the Wildcats (47-17) move within a win of their first national championship since 1986 and fourth overall.

The Gamecocks (49-19) must beat Arizona twice to become the first team since Southern California in the early 1970s to win three championships in a row.