The TCU Horned Frogs and UCLA Bruins will face off again today in an elimination game at the 2010 College World Series. TCU started the tourney with a victory over FSU by the score of 8-1 before dropping a 6-3 game to UCLA and bounced back with a 11-7 victory over Florida State again. They would defeat UCLA 6-2 on Friday to force a winner take all game against the Bruins on Saturday afternoon. UCLA picked up a 11-3 victory in their first game in Omaha over Florida before picking up a 6-3 win over TCU. On Friday, they dropped a 6-2 decision to the Horned Frogs to force a rematch on Saturday.
Senior RHP Paul Gerrish is expected to get the ball for the Horned Frogs as he is 1-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 appearances (7 starts). In 2009, he was 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA but was pushed out of the rotation by the emergence of Matt Purke this season. Coach Schlossnagle also has the option to use Kyle Winkler out of the pen as he only lasted 2.2 innings giving up six hits and five runs while walking two batters. He has an overall record of 12-2 with a 3.16 ERA while holding opponents to a .248 batting average against.
The star of the TCU offense in Omaha has been Taylor Featherston who went 2-2 with three RBI on Friday to bring up his CWS total for RBI to seven which puts him one behind South Carolina outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. He is hitting .336 with eight homers and 52 RBI this season. Jason Coats is the top hitter on the team with a .367 batting average with 13 homers and 69 RBI.
The UCLA Bruins will send Trevor Bauer to the hill as he was outstanding in his first start in Omaha on Saturday night against Florida. He went seven strong innings allowing six hits and three runs but only allowing two walks and striking out eleven batters. He currently has a 11-3 record with a 3.06 ERA in 123.1 innings of work while he has struck out 152 batters. They will also likely have top pro prospect Gerrit Cole available out of the bullpen as he went eight strong innings allowing five hits and three runs while striking out 13 batters. He tired in the seventh inning of the game where he gave up a three run triple to Taylor Featherston. If he comes out of the pen, he will likely be touching close to 100 MPH with his fastball as he touches the upper 90’s several innings into his starts.
Beau Amaral is leading the Bruins team in hitting with a .362 average while hitting four homers and driving in 31 runs. Dean Espy is the top run producer on the team with a .348 average while hitting eight homers and 50 RBI.
Prediction
Brian Foley: TCU 7-3
Mark Rafferty: TCU 5-1
1 comment
Should be an interesting game, I have a feeling that UCLA are going to win this one though.
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