UCLA Sweeps Oklahoma State to Reach College World Series

UCLA battered Oklahoma State pitching for 36 runs as the Bruins swept the Cowboys to win the Midwest Regional Sunday and earn their second trip to the College World Series.

The Bruins (45-19-1) got two home runs from Jon Heinrichs and another from Eric Valent as they had 31 hits in a 22-2 rout of the Cowboys in the second game at Stillwater, Okla.

UCLA advanced to the College World Series--which starts Friday in Omaha, Neb.--by winning five games in a row after losing to Harvard.

In the 14-2 victory in the first game Sunday, Jim Parque (13-2) gave up four hits over eight innings and Peter Zamora had four hits, including a home run to go with four RBIs.

“I think we got everything today,” UCLA Coach Gary Adams said. “We had great pitching, hitting and defense. It’s tough to lose with that much going for you.”

The last time UCLA played in the College World Series was 1969.

SOUTH II--Matt Frick hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Alabama to a 9-8 victory over USC (42-20) in the title game at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Crimson Tide (52-12), who reached the College World Series last season, hit five homers against the Trojans and have 27 in nine postseason games.

USC (42-20) was playing less than 11 hours after beating N.C. State, 13-4, in a game that ended about 2 a.m. CDT.

SOUTH I--Defending NCAA champion Louisiana State (51-13) made it to today’s title round against South Alabama by scoring seven runs in the 11th inning for a 14-7 victory over Long Beach State at Baton Rouge, La.

In the big inning, two runs scored on bases-loaded walks, two more on wild pitches and the Tigers also had four singles and a double.

South Alabama (43-17) advanced to the final with an 11-5 victory over LSU in a game that began Saturday but halted in the seventh inning because of rain.

LSU must defeat South Alabama twice to reach the College World Series.

WEST--Kyle Peterson pitched a seven-hitter as Stanford defeated Fresno State, 5-2, in the final at Palo Alto.

Peterson faced the minimum 23 batters over the final 7 2/3 innings and tournament MVP Josh Hochgesang hit a two-run homer for Stanford (43-18).

The Cardinal advances to the College World Series for the second time in three years.

ATLANTIC--Miami advanced by holding off Arizona State, 6-5, just hours after beating the Sun Devils, 7-6, on a two-out, ninth-inning grand slam by Jason Michaels at Coral Gables, Fla.

The Hurricanes (49-16) needed four victories in 36 hours to make their 16th trip to the College World Series since 1974.

MIDEAST--Mississippi State (45-19) defeated Georgia Tech (46-15) and Washington to set up a showdown for a College World Series berth against the Huskies today at Starkville, Miss.,

Hank Thoms struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief to give Mississippi State a 7-5 win over Washington (46-19). Earlier, the Bulldogs stayed alive with a 10-2 victory over Georgia Tech.

CENTRAL--Rice (47-14) advanced to its first College World Series with a 25-6 victory over Southwest Missouri State (35-25) at Lubbock, Texas.

Lance Berkman led a 25-hit attack, with two homers and four runs batted for the Owls.

EAST--Tim Hudson gave up five hits over eight innings to lead Auburn (49-15) to a 5-2 victory over Florida State (50-17) in the final at Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State forced a final game by earlier defeating Auburn, 9-7.