The No. 2 UCLA Bruins open the 2012 College World Series with a battle against the Cinderella team of the tournament in the No. 25 Stony Brook Seawolves in a Friday afternoon game on ESPN2. The Bruins have won nine straight games and 19 of their last 21 contests heading into their battle at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.
The Bruins (47-14) beat TCU in the Los Angeles Super Regional last weekend two games to none, advancing to their second College World Series in three seasons under head coach John Savage. Starting pitchers Adam Plutko and Nick Vander Tuig combined to pitch 13 innings against TCU and allowed only three runs, all on solo home runs.
Third baseman Jeff Gelalich, drafted in the supplemental first round of the MLB Draft, No. 57 overall by the Cincinnati Reds, has hit .329 (23-for-70) with five home runs, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 20 career postseason games.
Stony Brook (52-13) knocked off the No. 3 LSU Tigers last weekend in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. LSU won the opening game 4-3 in 12 innings, but the Seawolves won the last two games, including a 7-2 final in the third game. Stony Brook's starting pitching trio of Brandon McNitt, Tyler Johnson, and Frankie Vanderka combined to allow just three runs and nine hits in 25 innings against LSU.
Friday's 2 p.m. PDT game will be televised by ESPN2. The winner will play Sunday night against the winner of the Friday game between No. 5 Florida State and No. 13 Arizona.
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