Pac-12 powers Arizona, UCLA to meet again at World Series
OMAHA, Neb. — Johnny Field’s RBI double in the top of the 12th inning lifted Arizona to a 4-3 victory over Florida State in the College World Series on Friday night.
Joey Rickard had doubled into the left-center gap for the Wildcats’ first hit off Florida State closer Robert Benincasa (4-2), who entered in the ninth. Field followed with his two-base hit to right, driving in Rickard.
The Seminoles scored two unearned runs off Arizona starter Kurt Heyer to tie it in the sixth, 3-3, but had only three batters reach base the rest of the way.
Wildcats freshman closer Mathew Troupe (5-1) worked the last 22/3 innings for the win, striking out Devon Travis to end the game with a runner on third.
Arizona (44-17), which has won 14 out of 16 games, plays UCLA on Sunday in a meeting of Pacific-12 co-champions. The Seminoles (48-16) meet Stony Brook in an elimination game Sunday.
Troupe hit Seth Miller with a pitch with one out in the bottom of the 12th to keep Florida State’s hopes alive. Miller took second on a wild pitch and went to third on a groundout before Travis struck out swinging.
The No. 3 national seed Seminoles have lost four consecutive CWS openers.
Heyer, one week removed from a super regional win over St. John’s in which he allowed 17 hits over 9 innings, left after 72/3 innings.
It was his 12th consecutive start that he has pitched into the eighth inning. He allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out eight.
Freshman left-hander Brandon Leibrandt, FSU’s starting pitcher, worked 4 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. He is the son of former major league left-hander Charlie Leibrandt.
UCLA 9, Stony Brook 1: Adam Plutko turned in a third consecutive strong start, and the Bruins (48-14) jumped on the Seawolves, a CWS newcomer, for five runs in the first inning.
UCLA, the No. 2 national seed, sent 10 batters to the plate in the first against Tyler Johnson (12-2), who allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 innings. Jeff Gelalich’s bases-loaded single opened the scoring, and Kevin Williams’ two-run double off Jasvir Rakkar in the third made it 7-1.
“We had some plate discipline, had some quality at-bats, and we were fortunate we got some runs,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “I’m sure he has not started off a game like that all season long.”
Pat Cantwell homered for Stony Brook (52-14), which has played Division I baseball for 12 years.
Plutko (12-3) allowed five hits and struck out seven in seven innings. He has given up three runs and 14 hits in 23 postseason innings.
“Any pitcher knows that you get a lot of confidence when your team starts scoring runs. It makes it easier to pitch,” Plutko said.
Stony Brook staved off elimination five times in the NCAA tournament and will have to again Sunday against Florida State.
“We’re a very good ballclub and we’re here for a reason,” Johnson said. “It didn’t go our way today. That’s going to happen. We’ll get back after it on Sunday.”
