LOS ANGELES – Cody Regis’ three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning helped the No. 1-seed UCLA baseball team secure a four-run cushion as the Bruins (46-13) won the NCAA Los Angeles Regional with a 6-2 victory over No. 3-seed UC Irvine before 1,209 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Sunday night.
UCLA punched its second ticket in the last four seasons to the NCAA Super Regionals. The victory also set the Bruins’ new school record for victories in a single season (46), eclipsing the 1997 team’s 45-21-1 record.
Regis belted his second home run in as many games in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional on Sunday evening, going 1-for-2 with one homer, three RBI, two runs and two walks. Regis had a solo homer in the Bruins’ 6-3 win over LSU on Saturday night. Designated hitter Blair Dunlap went 2-for-4 with one double, one run and one RBI.
Left-hander Rob Rasmussen (10-2) notched the victory, limiting the Anteaters (39-21) to two runs and five hits in six innings. Rasmussen struck out seven batters and did not issue any walks. Rasmussen became the third UCLA pitcher this spring to collect 10 wins, joining sophomores Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole in that category.
Right-hander Erik Goeddel threw two scoreless innings (seventh and eighth), scattering two hits and notching two strikeouts to help preserve the regional-clinching victory.
UC Irvine right-hander Eric Pettis (9-5) absorbed the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in four innings. Pettis registered two strikeouts and walked two batters.
The Anteaters were led at the plate by shortstop D.J. Crumlich’s 3-for-4 effort, while left fielder Drew Hillman and right fielder Jonathan Hurst each went 2-for-4. Hillman and designated hitter Jordan Leyland each belted solo home runs for UC Irvine.
UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a run-scoring triple to center field by shortstop Niko Gallego.
UC Irvine answered with a solo home run from Hillman with two outs in the second, tying the contest at 1-1.
The Bruins scored twice in the top of the third to claim a 3-1 cushion. Center fielder Beau Amaral led off the frame with an infield single before scoring from first base on a double down the left-field line by Dunlap. Later in the inning, right fielder Chris Giovinazzo bounced a run-scoring single on the infield.
A solo home run by Leyland in the fifth inning reduced UCLA’s lead to 3-2.
Regis’ had the Bruins’ biggest hit of the game with his three-run round-tripper in the eighth inning.
The Bruins will face either No. 1-seed Cal State Fullerton or No. 4-seed Minnesota in NCAA Super Regional action next weekend. UCLA will play a best-of-three series against the winner of the Fullerton Regional on June 11-13 or June 12-14. The NCAA announces the dates, times and site on Monday evening.
Game Notes: UCLA broke the school record for wins in a season, established in 1997 — that marks the last season in which the Bruins advanced to the College World Series … the Bruins won an NCAA Regional at UCLA for the first time in program history … the Bruins last swept an NCAA Regional in 2007 (at Long Beach State) … UCLA has advanced to NCAA Super Regional action for the third time since the NCAA adopted the Super Regional format in 1999 (also won Regionals in 2000 and 2007) … UCLA’s 27 home victories s are the most since the Bruins went 28-10 in 1982 … no UCLA baseball team has had three pitchers with 10 or more victories until this season (Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Rob Rasmussen).