UCLA Wins the 2013 College World Series.
To recap the entire NCAA post-season tournament with links to my previous posts:
- Here’s my look at the Field of 64.
- Here’s a review of the First round and a look at the Super Regionals.
- Here’s a review of the Super Regionals and the CWS field with predictions.
- Here’s a look at the first four days of the CWS.
- Here’s a look at the rest of the CWS bracket play and a finals preview.
CWS Finals:
- Game 1: UCLA’s #1/Friday starter Adam Plutko pitched 6 innings of solid one-run ball and the Bruins got just enough from the Trevor Fitts/Chad Girodo Mississippi State combo starter offering to take the first game 3-1 (box/gamer). Plutko, an 11th round pick by Cleveland, wasn’t overly dominant (just 2 strikeouts) but was effective and the UCLA bullpen shut down the Bulldog offense.
- Game 2: UCLA’s #2/Saturday starter Nick Vander Tuig completed the two-game sweep with 8 shut-out innings while Mississippi State’s rotational depth issues were exposed badly. UCLA battered the bullpen-by-committee efforts and won the game and championship with ease 8-0.
UCLA just had the better pitching. Mississippi State’s missing friday starter and then the subsequent burning of their saturday starter (best remaining starter) to get to the final ended up costing them dearly.