University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Eric Filia (r) celebrates with teammates
Photo by: Getty Images
Bruins in Tokyo: August 4, 2021
August 04, 2021 | Bruin Athletics
Baseball
Team USA advanced to the semifinals of the Olympic baseball tournament after defeating the Dominican Republic by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday. Eric Filia started the contest in right field and batted fifth, going 1-2 with a stolen base. He accounted for one-third of Team USA's hits in the low-scoring affair.
Filia reached base in two of his three plate appearances on Wednesday. He got on base via a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the first, then collected an infield single to lead off the fourth. He swiped second after his base hit to give Team USA a runner in scoring position with nobody out, but they couldn't cash him in.
Led by five shutout innings from left-hander Scott Kazmir, the U.S. pitching staff held the Dominican Republic off the board until a solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Next up, Team USA will face Korea on Thursday at 3:00 a.m. PT. The winner of that contest advances to the gold medal game.
Women's Basketball
Angela Dugalic did not play in Serbia's 77-70 comeback victory over China in the tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. Trailing 58-49 after three quarters, the Serbians mounted a comeback fueled by a 12-0 run in the fourth to pick up the win and head to the semifinals. Dugalic looks to make her Olympic debut in the semifinals against the United States on Thursday evening (9:40 p.m. PT). A win would send Serbia to the gold medal game after the team earned a bronze in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Women's Golf
Two Bruins, Patty Tavatanakit and Mariajo Uribe, completed the first round of play at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Wednesday in Japan (Tuesday in the U.S.). Tavatanakit, representing Thailand, is tied for 23rd following an even-par 71. She made a pair of birdies, including one on the opening hole, and two bogeys, and sits five shots back of the individual lead with three rounds remaining. Mariajo Uribe, representing Colombia, is tied for 41st (+2, 73), posting two birdies and four bogeys. Tavatanakit begins round two on Thursday in Japan (Wednesday in the U.S.) at 8:14 a.m. JDT/4:14 p.m. PDT, while Uribe tees off at 9:03 a.m. JDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.
Men's Water Polo
Team USA came up just short against undefeated Spain, falling 12-8 in quarterfinal action at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday. The Americans now move to the 5th-8th qualification games where they will meet Italy on Friday, August 6 at 6:20 p.m. local time, 2:20 a.m. PDT on August 6.
The U.S. was tied with Spain at halftime 6-6 and trailed 7-6 through three quarters. But Spain outscored Team USA 5-2 in the fourth to earn the victory.
Alex Wolf got the start in goal and went the distance, keeping the Americans in the game with eight saves, making three big stops on power plays by Spain, which went 3-for-11 on extra man opportunities for the game. However, Team USA was just 2-for-17 on shots in the second half. The Americans also went 5-for-15 on power plays for the game. Max Irving also started for Team USA and didn't take a shot, but recorded one steal and one rebound.
Bruin Olympians in the News
Ariya, Patty out to boost Thai medal haul – Bangkok Post (Patty Tavatankit)
Tough loss to Spain turns into a teaching moment for U.S. men's water polo – Los Angeles Times (Alex Wolf)
Megan Rapinoe interrupted her opponent's interview and told her to 'go win' gold after USWNT upset – Insider (Jessie Fleming)
Social Media Highlights
Karch Kiraly and USA Women's Volleyball have eyes set on gold
A win 20 years in the making
A post-Olympic vacation for Delaney Spaulding and teammates
Team USA advanced to the semifinals of the Olympic baseball tournament after defeating the Dominican Republic by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday. Eric Filia started the contest in right field and batted fifth, going 1-2 with a stolen base. He accounted for one-third of Team USA's hits in the low-scoring affair.
Filia reached base in two of his three plate appearances on Wednesday. He got on base via a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the first, then collected an infield single to lead off the fourth. He swiped second after his base hit to give Team USA a runner in scoring position with nobody out, but they couldn't cash him in.
Led by five shutout innings from left-hander Scott Kazmir, the U.S. pitching staff held the Dominican Republic off the board until a solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Next up, Team USA will face Korea on Thursday at 3:00 a.m. PT. The winner of that contest advances to the gold medal game.
Women's Basketball
Angela Dugalic did not play in Serbia's 77-70 comeback victory over China in the tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. Trailing 58-49 after three quarters, the Serbians mounted a comeback fueled by a 12-0 run in the fourth to pick up the win and head to the semifinals. Dugalic looks to make her Olympic debut in the semifinals against the United States on Thursday evening (9:40 p.m. PT). A win would send Serbia to the gold medal game after the team earned a bronze in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Women's Golf
Two Bruins, Patty Tavatanakit and Mariajo Uribe, completed the first round of play at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Wednesday in Japan (Tuesday in the U.S.). Tavatanakit, representing Thailand, is tied for 23rd following an even-par 71. She made a pair of birdies, including one on the opening hole, and two bogeys, and sits five shots back of the individual lead with three rounds remaining. Mariajo Uribe, representing Colombia, is tied for 41st (+2, 73), posting two birdies and four bogeys. Tavatanakit begins round two on Thursday in Japan (Wednesday in the U.S.) at 8:14 a.m. JDT/4:14 p.m. PDT, while Uribe tees off at 9:03 a.m. JDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.
Men's Water Polo
Team USA came up just short against undefeated Spain, falling 12-8 in quarterfinal action at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday. The Americans now move to the 5th-8th qualification games where they will meet Italy on Friday, August 6 at 6:20 p.m. local time, 2:20 a.m. PDT on August 6.
The U.S. was tied with Spain at halftime 6-6 and trailed 7-6 through three quarters. But Spain outscored Team USA 5-2 in the fourth to earn the victory.
Alex Wolf got the start in goal and went the distance, keeping the Americans in the game with eight saves, making three big stops on power plays by Spain, which went 3-for-11 on extra man opportunities for the game. However, Team USA was just 2-for-17 on shots in the second half. The Americans also went 5-for-15 on power plays for the game. Max Irving also started for Team USA and didn't take a shot, but recorded one steal and one rebound.
Bruin Olympians in the News
Ariya, Patty out to boost Thai medal haul – Bangkok Post (Patty Tavatankit)
Tough loss to Spain turns into a teaching moment for U.S. men's water polo – Los Angeles Times (Alex Wolf)
Megan Rapinoe interrupted her opponent's interview and told her to 'go win' gold after USWNT upset – Insider (Jessie Fleming)
Social Media Highlights
Karch Kiraly and USA Women's Volleyball have eyes set on gold
Karch Kiraly on the USA's bid to win its first Olympic gold in women's volleyball: "We haven't stood at the top of the podium yet, so our goal, our objective, is always to try to do something that's never been done before."
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 4, 2021
A win 20 years in the making
Semi-Final goalscorer Jessie Fleming speaks on what it meant to her to contribute to the victory over USA and change the colour of the medal. #WNTRivalry #CANWNT #RiseHigher #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/CSfNqdPy8N
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) August 3, 2021
A post-Olympic vacation for Delaney Spaulding and teammates
Monday, June 29
Wednesday, June 24
Wednesday, June 17
Friday, June 12