OMAHA, Neb. (AP) South Carolina and Arizona have been staying at the same hotel during the College World Series.
That wasn't a problem when the teams were playing in opposite brackets.
Now they're matched in the best-of-three finals.
''The Hilton Hotel Battle Royale. That's the name for it,'' South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth said Saturday. ''We've been seeing these guys all week. We have tons of respect for each other. The worst part is that someone is going to be celebrating and someone is going to have to hear it.
''That's probably the only down side. And there is no free breakfast.''
Gamecocks right fielder Adam Matthews said he ran into a bunch of South Carolina pitchers in an elevator the other day and didn't think much of it.
''They were all a foot-and-a-half taller than me,'' he said. ''I never imagined we would be playing them.''
Arizona right fielder Robert Refsnyder said hotel employees are being put into an awkward position.
''They're going to have to pick their sides, I guess,'' he said.
Matthews said he plans to recruit some fans. He's noticed some new guests have been staying at the hotel in recent days with the start of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials Monday at the adjacent CenturyLink Center.
''We'll take some swimmers,'' he said.
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ROTH'S ''TATTOO'': South Carolina ace Michael Roth showed up at the pre-CWS finals news conference with a spider web-looking patch over his left forearm arm.
''Sweet tattoo,'' he called it.
The patch actually was Kinesio tape, which is believed to help relieve pain and promote the healing of muscles.
Roth took a line drive to the arm Thursday against Kent State.
''It helps me heal faster. I just like the design,'' he said.
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STAR TREATMENT: Playing before sparse crowds in the Pac-12 can make a guy wonder if anybody notices what his team is doing.
That hasn't been an issue in Omaha, Arizona right fielder Robert Refsnyder said.
''It's cool to see a community come together for such an amazing event,'' he said. ''Everyone's been very supportive. It's cool being at restaurants and having people notice who you are. This is the promised land of college baseball, and it's neat to be a part of it.''
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HOW DO YOU SAY THAT?: For all the great baseball that is traditionally played in the Pac-12, the conference seems to have an identity problem.
Arizona's Robert Refsnyder noticed it when he traveled to the East Coast to play in the Cape Cod League the past couple summers.
His teammates were confused about how the conference's pronunciation. Rather than saying ''Pack'' for Pac, some of them would say ''Pace.''
''That's where I realized we need to gain some respect nationally,'' Refsnyder said. ''Arizona State has been here, and Cal was a Cinderella story last year. The SEC gets a lot of notoriety, and the ACC and the Big 12. Sometimes on the West Coast we got lost in the scene of professional sports and entertainment. It's great for Arizona and the West Coast and Pac-12 to get matched up with such a power from the SEC. Hopefully it helps the Pac-12 gain some recognition.''
For his part, South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth pleaded ignorance when asked what he knows about Pac-12 baseball.
''I can't lie to you guys,'' he said. ''I'm not really a fan of baseball. I just play the games we play. I don't know anything about the Pac-12. Obviously, Arizona is doing a great job.''