UCLA Drops First Game Of CWS Championships Series, 7-1
June 28, 2010
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OMAHA, Neb. - The UCLA baseball team fell behind early and lost 7-1 to South Carolina in Game 1 of the best-of-three College World Series Championship before 23,181 at Rosenblatt Stadium on Monday night.
South Carolina right-hander Blake Cooper limited the Bruins (51-16) to one run and three hits in eight-plus innings to earn the victory.
The Gamecocks (53-16) scored in each of the first three innings, jumping to a 6-0 lead after the top of the fifth before UCLA recorded its first hit of the ballgame.
UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole (11-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) and 11 hits in seven innings.
"It was clearly South Carolina's night," UCLA head coach John Savage said. "It just seemed like we got off to rough start. With two outs in the first, they touched the ball a couple of times, and their hitters did a terrific job off Gerrit in touching the ball. Blake Cooper was outstanding on three-days rest. You've got to give him a ton of credit. He pounded the strike zone and kept us off-balance all evening."
South Carolina was led at the plate by Bobby Haney, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Evan Marzilli, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Christian Walker each netted two hits for the Gamecocks. Adrian Morales and Wingo each scored two runs as South Carolina pounded out 14 hits.
The Gamecocks got on the scoreboard early, scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Brady Thomas hit a check-swing RBI single down the left field line to score Jackie Bradley Jr. for the first run, and the Gamecocks scored another run on a error by second baseman Cody Regis with two out.
South Carolina scored another run in the top of the second with Marzilli singling home Wingo, who had reached base on a triple to left field. Bobby Haney drove in two runs in the third inning and one more in the fifth, pushing the Gamecocks ahead by a 6-0 margin.
Whit Merrifield added an RBI-single in the eighth inning to make it 7-0.
UCLA (51-16) did not get its first hit until the fifth inning, a single by Steve Rodriguez, and had a runner in scoring position just twice prior to loading the bases in the ninth inning on singles by Regis, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and Gelalich, and a walk to pinch-hitter Marc Navarro. Trevor Brown hit into a double play, but it scored Regis for the Bruins' only run of the game.
"[South Carolina] They deserved to win the game, and they dominated us in every phase," Savage said. "But it's one game and a best 2-of-3. We have bounced back all season. This is a team that has been resilient, and we'll get back there tomorrow."
UCLA and South Carolina will meet for Game 2 on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT. Junior left-hander Rob Rasmussen will start for the Bruins.
Tuesday's game will be televised live on ESPN, with Mike Patrick and former major leaguers Orel Hershiser and Robin Ventura calling the action live from Rosenblatt Stadium. ESPN's Erin Andrews and Kyle Peterson will serve as the dugout reporters.
Game Notes: UCLA avoided being shutout for the first time all season by scoring one run in the top of the ninth inning ... freshman right-hander Scott Griggs made his first postseason pitching appearance, tossing 0.2 hitless innings in relief of Gerrit Cole and Matt Grace ... Cody Regis extended his hitting streak to a season-long 13 games ... the Bruins did not record their first hit until Steve Rodriguez reached with a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning.