OMAHA, Neb. — Johnny Field’s RBI double in the top of the 12th inning lifted Arizona to a 4-3 victory over Florida State in the College World Series on Friday night.
Joey Rickard had doubled into the left-center gap for the Wildcats’ first hit off Florida State closer Robert Benincasa (4-2), who came on in the ninth. Field followed with his two-base hit to right, driving in Rickard.
The Seminoles scored two unearned runs off Arizona starter Kurt Heyer to tie it 3-3 in the sixth but had only three more batters reach base until the 12th.
Wildcats freshman closer Mathew Troupe (5-1) worked the last 2 2⁄3 innings for the win, striking out Devon Travis to end the game with a runner on third.
“Momentum is a huge thing, and being able to get that first win will carry us forward, and I think we’ll ride the momentum Sunday and for the rest of the world series,” Troupe said.
Arizona (44-17), which has won 14 of 16 games, plays UCLA on Sunday in a meeting of Pac-12 co-champions. The Seminoles (48-16) meet Stony Brook in an elimination game Sunday.
Field’s game-winning hit came after he had gone 0-for-4 with a walk in his first five plate appearances.
“Tonight I wasn’t really seeing the ball too well, had really bad at-bats early in the game, trying to do too much and chasing pitches that weren’t in my zone,” Field said. “The last at-bat I made adjustments, went back to the drawing board and tried to look for a pitch to hit the middle off of, and he just threw one over the plate, and I was lucky enough to get my barrel on it.”
UCLA 9, Stony Brook 1
Adam Plutko turned in a third straight strong start, and UCLA jumped on College World Series newcomer Stony Brook for five runs in the first inning on its way to a victory in Friday’s opener.
The Bruins (48-14), the No. 2 national seed, sent 10 batters to the plate in the first against Tyler Johnson (12-2), who allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 1⁄3 innings. Jeff Gelalich’s bases-loaded single opened the scoring, and Kevin Williams’ two-run double off Jasvir Rakkar in the third made it 7-1.
Pat Cantwell homered for Stony Brook (52-14).
Plutko (12-3) allowed five hits and struck out seven in seven innings. He has given up three runs and 14 hits in 23 postseason innings.
