A three-run double by first baseman Cody Regis highlighted a five-run sixth inning to give the No. 2 UCLA Bruins a 6-2 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in Game 1 of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Los Angeles Super Regional Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. It was the eighth straight win for UCLA, who has won 15 of their last 16 games.
The Bruins lead the best-of-three series one game to none, and are one game from advancing to the College World Series for the second time in three years.
Adam Plutko allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings of work. He struck out seven and walked two, earning his 11th win of the season. The only runs off Plutko came on solo home runs, by Kyle Von Tungeln and Josh Elander.
TCU threatened for more runs in the top of the fourth inning with runners on first and third with one out, but Plutko used the fake to third, throw to first pickoff move and it actually worked! Brance Rivera was the unwitting victim at first base for the second out of the inning, then Plutko induced a pop out to end the rally.
Trevor Brown was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for UCLA. David Berg struck out four in two innings of relief to close out the win. Game 2 is Saturday night at 6 p.m. PDT, and will be televised by ESPN2.
For more on the UCLA baseball team, check out Bruins Nation.
