News Summary
The UCLA Bruins baseball team advanced to the College World Series after a decisive 7-0 victory over UTSA in the Los Angeles Super Regional. This marks UCLA’s first appearance in Omaha since their national championship win in 2013. Dominating pitching and a late offensive surge paved the way for their success, highlighted by standout performances from key players. This achievement signifies a return to college baseball excellence for the Bruins, who look ahead to facing the Durham Super Regional winner.
Los Angeles – The UCLA Bruins baseball team has secured a spot in the College World Series after defeating the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) 7-0 in the decisive game of the Los Angeles Super Regional. This victory marks UCLA’s first trip to Omaha since they emerged as national champions in 2013, reiterating their strong presence in collegiate baseball.
UCLA’s triumph over UTSA comes after they completed a two-game sweep, elevating their NCAA Tournament record to 5-0 this season. The Bruins’ pitching staff showcased their dominance throughout the series, especially in this final game where they delivered a remarkable performance, throwing 16 consecutive scoreless innings.
Starting pitcher Landon Stump set the tone with four shutout innings, striking out five batters. Following his exit, the Bruins’ bullpen continued to excel, contributing five hitless innings to maintain the shutout against the Roadrunners.
Offensively, UCLA’s scoring began slowly with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. However, the team exploded for five runs over the last two frames to secure the win decisively. Payton Brennan was a standout player for UCLA, collecting three hits, driving in two runs, and scoring twice. Teammate Roch Cholowsky also played a significant role, contributing a key RBI single to his two-hit performance, while Toussaint Bythewood added to the offensive onslaught with a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning.
The achievement of advancing to the College World Series represents a significant milestone, marking UCLA’s sixth appearance at this stage and the fourth under head coach John Savage. This trip holds special significance as it ends a 12-year absence from Omaha, a location synonymous with college baseball excellence.
UCLA’s last NCAA postseason shutout occurred in the 2013 College World Series when they defeated Mississippi State 8-0. With this latest shutout against UTSA, they matched their largest margin of victory in a Super Regional, previously achieved with an 8-1 win against Cal State Fullerton in 2010. Coach Savage emphasized the collective effort and resilience demonstrated by the team, attributing some of their success to the valuable experience gained during the Big Ten tournament earlier in the season.
As they prepare for their upcoming games, the Bruins will face the winner of the Durham Super Regional, where Duke and Murray State are currently tied 1-1. The anticipation surrounding UCLA’s participation in the College World Series is palpable, with players and fans alike reflecting on the journey that has led them back to this prestigious tournament.
Cholowsky articulated the feeling of accomplishment, describing the win as “surreal” and expressing the realization of a long-time dream. With their sights set on continuing their success, the Bruins are poised to compete fiercely on the national stage, invigorating their tradition of excellence in NCAA baseball.
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Additional Resources
- USA Today: UCLA vs UTSA Live Updates
- UCLA Bruins: Advances to College World Series
- LA Times: UCLA Baseball vs UTSA Game Recap
- Sports Illustrated: Bruins Baseball Podcast on Omaha
- USA Today: UTSA vs UCLA TV Info
- Wikipedia: Baseball
