The UCLA Bruins, the No. 2 national seed, are back in the College World Series for the fourth time overall and the first time since losing the championship series to the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2010. The Bruins defeated the TCU Horned Frogs, 4-1, on Saturday night to capture the Los Angeles Super Regional of the 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament. UCLA won Friday night's game, 6-2.
UCLA scored its runs on a Pat Valaika sacrifice fly in the second inning, a Tyler Heineman sacrifice bunt in the third, a passed ball in the sixth inning and a Cody Keefer sacrifice fly in the seventh. Valaika and Trevor Brown each hit triples in the game.
Nick Vander Tuig threw a sterling start for the Bruins, allowing one run on a Brance Rivera home run in the third inning. He went six innings and struck out five. David Berg allowed just two hits and struck out three over the final three innings. TCU pitchers Preston Morrison and Andrew Mitchell allowed two runs each while Kaleb Merck pitched two scoreless innings.
Colorado Rockies draft pick and TCU center fielder Kyle Von Tungeln went 2-for-4.
UCLA joins the Arizona Wildcats, both representing the Pac-12, as the only teams to advance to the College World Series so far.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For a complete bracket, visit NCAA.com.
