UCLA forces rubber game with Fullerton

One out from Omaha.

One more day in Westwood.

The pendulum swung hard and fast, denying Cal State Fullerton and providing UCLA with another opportunity Saturday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

When shortstop Niko Gallego smothered a grounder and flipped to second baseman Tyler Rahmatulla for the last out, the Bruins had rallied, collapsed, and scratched their way back for an 11-7 victory in 10 innings to extend the Super Regional by one more day.

“We live to fight another day,” Coach John Savage said.

Reserve Trevor Brown gave the Bruins life with a two-run single in the 10th inning that broke a 7-7 tie. Right fielder Casey Watkins gave UCLA some breathing room by muffing a lazy fly by Rahmatulla, letting in two more runs.

Reliever Dan Klein held that lead, leaving two weary and battered teams to play a deciding game Sunday at 7 p.m., with the winner going to the College World Series.

It would be Fullerton’s seventh appearance since 1999. It would be UCLA’s first trip since 1997 and only the second in school history.

Fullerton (46-17) was one out from the World Series when things got interesting in the ninth inning. Raymond Hernandez walked Brian Dunlap and Rahmatulla launched a 3-and-1 pitch over the left-field fence for a 7-6 lead.

Said Coach Dave Serrano: “When you’re down to the last out to get to Omaha and they drop a two on you in a hurry, that’s a tough deal.”

UCLA (47-14) was two outs from forcing a third game in the bottom of the ninth, when third baseman Cody Regis misplayed a throw on a double steal, allowing pinch-runner Gary Brown to score and putting Christian Colon on third with the potential winning run.

But Colon strayed too far from third base and was caught in a rundown on Richie Pedroza’s sharp grounder with one out.

Fullerton pitchers walked eight batters and hit two more. UCLA had nine hits, and four of them left the ballpark.

“I don’t think we deserved to win from the mound,” Serrano said. “You can’t give that many free passes and expect to win.”

Regis hit two home runs and Justin Uribe one. The growing-pains offense, with five players in the lineup either sophomores or freshmen, seemed enough for pitcher Trevor Bauer.

Bauer pitched six solid innings. He gave up five runs on two-out hits, twice being burned by Pedroza, whose single with two outs in the seventh tied the score, 4-4. Corey Jones followed with a two-run single to give the Titans their first lead.

Jones, Fullerton’s second leading hitter, injured his shoulder on the play, but Serrano said he expected Jones to play Sunday.

chris.foster@latimes.com