2010 College World Series: TCU Cuts Into UCLA Lead At 6-3

Through six innings, UCLA starting pitcher Gerrit Cole had been nothing short of dominant. He had allowed just one hit and struck out nine to shut out the powerful TCU offense. Meanwhile, the UCLA offense did enough damage early to stake Cole to a 5-0 lead. Finally in the seventh inning, the Horned Frogs got to Cole.

Consecutive one-out singles put a pair of men on base and another single with two outs loaded up the bases for TCU. That brought Taylor Featherston to the plate and after falling behind in the count, 1-2, the shortstop battled his way to 3-2 before getting a pitch up and driving it to deep left center field. UCLA center fielder Beau Amaral gave chase and dove for it, but couldn’t get there and Featherston went sliding into third with a three-RBI triple. That brought the tying run to the plate, but Cole got him swinging with another high fastball.

A sacrifice fly by Niko Gallego scored Amaral in the bottom of the seventh to give UCLA a 6-3 lead, then Cole struck out two more in the eighth to give him 13 for the game. Now, TCU has just three outs left to get even with the Bruins or be forced to face elimination in the loser’s bracket.