From the first inning of Sunday's Championship Finals opener the South Carolina Gamecocks never had a chance—the Arizona Wildcats got out to a 5-1 lead in Game 1 and, Monday, pulled ahead with a three-run ninth inning to take Game 2 and the 2012 College World Series by a final score of 4-1. St. Louis Cardinals draft pick Alex Mejia picked up two hits and an RBI in the victories, and now that the college season is over he'll get his heretofore-delayed chance to begin professional ball. (He and Wildcats starter Kurt Heyer were among the last of the Cardinals' unsigned draft picks.)
Outstanding pitching continued to carry the day for the Wildcats, who'd gotten big performances from Heyer earlier in the tournament. In Game 1 starter Konner Wade, a former high school draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks who will be eligible for the draft again next year, threw a complete game while allowing six hits and walking only one batter; in Game 2 they got 7.2 one-run innings out of James Farris.
And now, after two years dominated by South Carolina, the Arizona Wildcats have their first College World Series championship in more than 25 seasons.