OMAHA — Clemson roughed up previously unbeaten Arizona State ace Seth Blair and got strong performances from Casey Harman and Alex Frederick to stop the No. 1 national seed Sun Devils 6-3 on Monday at the College World Series.
Blair (12-1), taken 46th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the recent major-league draft, reached 110 pitches in the fifth inning and left after John Hinson’s RBI single put the Tigers (44-23) up 3-1.
Harman gave up a run in the sixth, and was relieved by Frederick after the Sun Devils (52-9) loaded the bases with none out in the seventh. Drew Maggi’s RBI groundout cut Clemson’s lead to 6-3, but Frederick struck out Zack MacPhee to end the rally.
Frederick retired the Sun Devils in order in the eighth and ninth for his third save.
UCLA 6, TCU 3
Gerrit Cole struck out 13 and carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning, and Cody Regis and Jeff Gelalich homered for the Bruins.
The Horned Frogs (52-13) will play Florida State in an elimination game Wednesday, with the winner meeting the Bruins (50-14) on Friday.
The Bruins went ahead 5-0 in the third on Regis’ and Gela-lich’s home runs against TCU starter Kyle Winkler (12-2).
The Horned Frogs, who came into the game hitting a CWS-best .341, scored three runs on four hits in the seventh inning off Cole (11-3). Dan Klein pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
Florida State 8, Florida 5
Mike McGee hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the third inning, laid down a squeeze bunt in the fourth and moved in from left field to pick up the save for the Seminoles (48-19) after the Gators (47-17) made things interesting in the ninth.
“Pitching, it’s great to end the game and get the save. I like to be in control,” McGee said. “But hitting the home run is the best feeling there is.”
