UCLA Gains Title Game Berth With a 3-2 Victory

Pete Janicki gave up two hits in seven innings and struck out eight as UCLA earned a spot in the NCAA Mideast Regional championship game with a 3-2 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday.

UCLA was to play Oklahoma Sunday night for the title.

Janicki (9-4) yielded two singles and two walks before leaving after seven innings with a 3-0 lead.

Adam Melhuse singled and stole second and scored on an error to give UCLA (37-25) a 1-0 lead during the first inning. The Bruins scored two more during the fourth with the help of errors. John Myrow doubled with two out and scored on right fielder Rex Buckner’s fielding error. Robert Hinds followed with a triple.

Chuck Daniel (5-4) gave up all three unearned runs on six hits before being relieved during the fifth by B.J. Wallace, who had struck out 19 during a first-round game. Wallace gave up no hits or walks and struck out three.

Mississippi State (40-22) scored twice during the eighth when Steve Hegan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Ron Brown had a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

The Bulldogs stranded the tying run on third base during the ninth.

“Chuck Daniel and B.J. Wallace pitched well and Pete Janicki pitched well for two days’ rest,” Bulldog Coach Ron Polk said. “I thought we hit well once we got Janicki out. He has too many weapons to really give you an opportunity to score very much.”