LITTLE ROCK — When ESPN replayed the pitch using its K-Zone, which highlights the strike zone area, Perry Costello’s name was written down.
The umpire behind the plate in Arkansas’ 3-2 loss to South Carolina on Friday night has joined the ranks of Tommy Bell, Andre Patillo and Marc Curles as game officials Razorbacks fans will never forget or forgive.
In the bottom of the seventh, with the bases loaded and two out, Barrett Astin — who like all of the Razorbacks’ relievers had been sensational throughout the NCAA Tournament — came with an inning-ending strike to get out of the jam.
Only Costello called it a ball, and what would prove to be the winning run scored.
The replay clearly showed the pitch was a strike. The ball call allowed South Carolina to survive in what was a classic College World Series game.
For nine innings, the SEC brothers went at it like mortal enemies.
Emotion seemed to build with every pitch. Momentum never swung; it just swayed.
When the Razorbacks scored one run in the top of the first inning and then got out of the bottom half of the inning with a bases-loaded double play, it was hard not to think this could be their night.
That was the only double play of the game.
In the third inning, the Razorbacks scored another run, and while relaxing wasn’t allowed, a little sigh of relief was expected.
One thing was becoming obvious, though: Costello’s strike zone.
The home plate umpire seemed to wake up in a new world on every pitch, and truthfully, until the final pitch, he seemed equally incompetent.
The Gamecocks tied it at 2-2 in the fifth inning, and the knots in the stomachs of fans on both sides became doublefisted Flemish Bend knots.
What 22,184 fans at TD Ameritrade Park and millions of TV viewers were witnessing were two teams that play very much alike.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn rightfully thought the Razorbacks could run on South Carolina’s catcher, and they stole three bases that gave them a slight edge in daring, but it was a game of guts for glory.
The winner would advance to the championship round, while the nonwinner — it is next to impossible to call a team a loser in that game — went home with head up and shoulders back, knowing the season ended in Omaha, Neb., where every college baseball player wants his season to conclude.
If not for a botched double play and a couple of hit batters in the super regional, the Razorbacks might have been the Wacogs instead of the Omahogs.
Yet, the Razorbacks defeated Baylor to advance to the College World Series, then beat Kent State and South Carolina.
South Carolina eliminated Kent State on Thursday morning, and several hours later the Gamecocks took on the Razorbacks and squeaked out a 2-0 victory to set up Friday night’s rubber match.
Pitching was so efficient that the Razorbacks left six on base and the Gamecocks seven.
Van Horn and South Carolina Coach Ray Tanner were even on strategies, changes and moves.
It was a fundamentally sound baseball game. One that should have been settled on the field, not from behind the plate.
South Carolina now goes for its third consecutive College World Series championship, this time against a very good Arizona team.
All Razorbackers should pull for the Gamecocks now, partly because they are an SEC brother, but mostly because the Razorbacks could have been the team taking the field today.
Friday night, the teams made zero errors, but the one behind the plate cost the Razorbacks a chance at victory.
Sports, Pages 21 on 06/24/2012