Some thoughts about Saturday's NCAA tournament games

The possibility of a Clemson-South Carolina Super Regional to determine one College World Series berth is looking pretty solid right now. If it happens, it's a shame one school won't get to go to Omaha.

USC's offense comes up big

South Carolina's offense has been spotty in recent weeks, but it showed plenty of signs of life in Saturday's 11-5 win over Stetson. The Gamecocks will need the hitting to continue if it and Clemson both reach the Super Regional.

There are still a couple of spots in the lineup where USC could use more production. If Adam Matthews can shake his injury-induced rustiness, it would be a plus.

Other than a propensity to allow home runs, Colby Holmes has been masterful much of the season. It's mind-boggling to realize he has given up 46.1 percent (12) of the 26 home runs the Gamecocks have allowed this season.

Proven weekend starter Forrest Koumas is available for Sunday night's potential regional clincher. The Gamecocks are in the catbird's seat right now.

Tigers are hotter than a June bride

There may not be a team in the country playing better than Clemson right now. The Tigers' tweaks to the pitching staff have been successful and the offense is simply red-hot.

There's not a hitter in Clemson's lineup that an opposing coach can look at and have reasonable confidence that the hitter won't hurt them.

Clemson has also tightened its defense from last season, and defense helps win baseball games.

Like USC, Clemson is poised to advance with a win on Sunday.

Chanticleers have yet to get over the hump

While Coastal Carolina has a couple of fine hitters in Tommy La Stella and Scott Woodward, it doesn't have the the top-to-bottom hitting prowess to get into a slugfest with Clemson. That they were able to drive Clemson starter Dominic Leone from the game so early was a small victory.

Coastal has been winning with pitching, and the pitching wasn't up to snuff Saturday at Clemson. The Chanticleers went through seven pitchers against Clemson and will burn some more arms up trying to beat UConn Sunday afternoon in an effort to get a rematch with Clemson.

The Chants needs something good to happen for them -- fast.

Elsewhere

* The ACC and SEC both went 6-1 on Saturday, improving each league to 11-3 so far in the NCAA. North Carolina, Virginia, Florida State and Clemson can earn trips to Super Regionals with a win Sunday. Ditto for the SEC's Florida, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Mississippi State (in Atlanta) is the only one doing so away from home.

* N.C. State's Cory Mazzoni likely improved his draft stock with a 12-strikeout effort against Georgia Southern.

* No. 1 regional seeds Cal State Fullerton, Rice, TCU and Texas all fell into category of needing three wins in two days to win their regionals. Texas is the No. 7 national seed and Rice the No. 8. The top six national seeds - three from the ACC, three from the SEC - are in the championship round of their regionals.

* Oklahoma became the first 2010 CWS participant to be eliminated, losing to state rival Oral Roberts. The Sooners were the only team to beat South Carolina in Omaha during its NCAA title run a season ago.

* Former Greer High star Daniel Palka doubled and homered for Georgia Tech in its elimination-game win over Southern Mississippi.

* It seems like Virginia and North Carolina got drastically easier regionals than the other six national seeds. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but ...