It looks like UCLA has no intention of letting the College World Series finals go to a third game, as they’ve opened a 5-0 lead through four and a half innings Tuesday night. It’s been a typical offensive outing for the Bruins, who have taken advantage of three Mississippi State errors and pushed runners around with sac plays.
College World Series 2013 finals: UCLA leading 5-0 halfway through
UCLA is now twelve outs away from the national championship.
Stephen Dunn
UCLA got a leadoff runner on base in the bottom of the first when an inside pitch clipped Brian Carroll, (though replay showed he stepped out of the batters’ box and into the pitch), then a throwing error on MSU pitcher Luis Polloreno put men on the corners with no outs. A sac liner to right field then scored the game’s first run and put UCLA up 1-0.
That would be the only inning for Polloreno, as Ross Mitchell would start the second inning on the mound for the Bulldogs.
The Bruins struck again in the bottom of the third. A walk and a single put men on first and third before a sac bunt brought in a second run.
One batter later, Pat Valaika singled to right to make it 3-0.
UCLA then added two more in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 5-0.
It’s been another difficult day at the plate for Mississippi State, who have only mustered two hits through the first four innings. They had been the hottest swinging team in the CWS coming into the finals, but have had no answer for UCLA’s starting pitching. They threatened in the fifth by putting two men on with no outs, but squandered the opportunity without scoring.
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