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College World Series: Arizona eliminates UC Santa Barbara

Arizona catcher Ryan Haug, front left, and relief pitcher Cameron Ming celebrate as teammates run out of the dugout following a College World Series baseball game against UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday.
(Ted Kirk / Associated Press)
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Jared Oliva homered for the first time in more than two months and JC Cloney pitched seven innings, leading Arizona to a 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara in a College World Series elimination game Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (46-22) will play Oklahoma State on Friday in the Bracket 1 final. They need to win that game and another Saturday against the Cowboys to reach next week’s best-of-three finals.

The Gauchos (43-20-1) were 1-2 in their first CWS appearance.

“The past month, I’ve become more developed as a hitter, and I try to stay relaxed and don’t do too much,” Oliva said.

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“I stick to my game plan, and whatever happens happens. I got a good pitch to hit and got a good swing on it.”

Cloney (7-4) gave up five singles before turning the game over to Cameron Ming with a runner on base and no outs in the eighth inning.

The Gauchos threatened in the ninth inning after Clay Fisher doubled and Devon Gradford walked with no outs.

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Ming struck out Austin Bush, JJ Muno and Dempsey Grover to end the game.

Arizona has given up two runs in three CWS games.

Santa Barbara senior left-hander Justin Kelly (2-1) gave up seven hits in three-plus innings.

Arizona scored its first run on a sacrifice fly, and Oliva followed with his fourth home run this season, and first since April 4, to make it 3-0.

Trevor Bettencourt settled things down for the Gauchos after Kyle Lewis singled leading off the fourth against Kelly.

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Bettencourt retired 13 batters in a row, striking out a career-high seven, before Bobby Dalbec singled in the eighth inning.

“When people go home, they get emotional, and I promised myself I wouldn’t, but for these kids to get us here, to get this opportunity for our program, is unique,” Gauchos Coach Andrew Checketts said.

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