Much of the focus surrounding the College World Series’ best-of-three championship series was geared toward UCLA’s extremely talented pitching staff.

However, in game one, it was South Carolina’s Blake Cooper that delivered the show stealing performance and propelled his team to a 7-1 victory over the Bruins.

The Gamecocks (53-16) got to UCLA’s Gerrit Cole early. USC didn’t crush the ball off the Bruins’ starter, but found ways on base and pushed runs across.

With two outs in the top of the first, Jackie Bradley, Jr. laid down a bunt single that started a rally. Christian Walker followed with a single to left before Brady Thomas put USC up 1-0 on a single to left. Walker crossed the plate on an error by the Bruins’ second baseman Morales to make it 2-0.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the second when leadoff man Evan Marzilli singled to score Scott Wingo, who had reached with a one out triple.

The Gamecocks’ advantage became 5-0 in third when Bobby Haney came through with a two-run single.

USC did tack on single runs in the seventh and ninth to push its lead to 7-0, but those runs would hardly be necessary as Cooper had it on cruise control.

UCLA (51-16) was held hitless through four innings and scoreless through eight.