Omaha, NE (Sports Network) – Trevor Bauer threw eight stellar innings, striking out 13, and Blair Dunlap hit a three-run homer, as UCLA advanced to the College World Series title series with a convincing 10-3 victory over TCU.
Bauer, who tossed 135 pitches, allowed three runs — two earned — on four hits with two walks, while Dean Espy turned in a 3-for-4 game with a homer and two RBI for UCLA, which will face the winner of Saturday’s nightcap between South Carolina and Clemson in the best-of-three championship series beginning Monday night.
Bryan Holaday cracked a pair of solo homers for TCU, which finished the season with a 54-14 mark. Kyle Winkler was saddled with the loss for surrendering three runs on two hits without recording an out in the first inning.
Holaday opened the scoring in the top of the first with a homer to give TCU a brief lead. However, UCLA answered with a five spot in the home half. Beau Amaral was hit by a pitch leading off and Niko Gallego singled before Dunlap cleared the bases with his three-run shot to left.
Paul Gerrish took over on the mound for Winkler and walked Cody Regis and two batters later gave up a run-scoring double to Jeff Gelalich. Espy followed with an RBI single for a 5-1 Bruins advantage. Regis added an RBI double in the second.
Joe Weik’s sacrifice fly in the fourth and another homer by Holaday in the fifth drew TCU to within 6-3.
UCLA responded by putting up a pair of runs in the sixth on a run-scoring base hit from Regis and passed ball that allowed Dunlap to cross the plate from third.
In the seventh, Espy cracked a tape-measure homer into the left field seats and Amaral’s double down the left field line scored Steve Rodriguez with the aid of an error to make it 10-3.
Dan Klein took over for Bauer in the ninth and retired the side in order.