OMAHA — 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 en route to a 9-1 victory in Friday’s opener.
The No. 2 national seed Bruins (48-14) sent 10 batters to the plate in the first against Tyler Johnson (12-2), who allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 innings that was his shortest of the year. 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’s homer accounted for Stony Brook’s only run off Plutko (12-3), who allowed five hits and struck out seven in seven innings.
Plutko has given up three runs and 14 hits in 23 postseason innings.
Stony Brook (52-14), a Division I baseball program for only 12 years, emerged on the national scene this week with its “Shock The World” mantra after upsetting powerful LSU in a three-game super regional in Baton Rouge, La.
The celebrated Seawolves from Long Island came to town as the first team from the Northeast to play at the CWS since Maine in 1986.
On college baseball’s biggest stage they were no match for a UCLA team that has won 134 games the past three seasons — the best stretch in program history.
Plutko, who threw a two-hit shutout against Creighton in the regional, gave up just two singles before Cantwell drilled his second homer of the season in the third.
Arizona 4, Florida State 3 (12). Johnny Field’s RBI double in the top of the 12th inning lifted the Wildcats to a victory over the Seminoles in the late game.
Zunino wins Howser. Catcher Mike Zunino was named winner of the Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball’s player of the year, becoming the first Florida player to win the award in its 26-year history.
The two-time All-American was the No. 3 overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in the first-year player draft. Zunino, from Cape Coral, Fla., is batting .322 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs. The Associated Press
At TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha
DOUBLE-ELIMINATION
x-if necessary
Friday’s results
Game 1 — UCLA 9, Stony Brook 1
Game 2 — Arizona 4, Florida State 3 (12)
Today’s games
Game 3 — Kent State (46-18) vs. Arkansas (44-20), 3 p.m.
Game 4 — South Carolina (45-17) vs. Florida (47-18), 7 p.m.
Sunday’s games
Game 5 — Stony Brook (52-14) vs. Florida State (48-16), 3 p.m.
Game 6 — UCLA (48-14) vs. Arizona (44-17), 7 p.m.
Monday’s games
Game 7 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Tuesday’s games
Game 9 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s games
Game 10 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s games
Game 11 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 12 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
Friday’s games
x-Game 13 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 3 p.m.
x-Game 14 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
Note: If only one game is necessary, it will start at 6 p.m.
Championship Series
(Best of three)
Sunday, June 24
Game 1 — 6 p.m.
Monday, June 25
Game 2 — 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 26
x-Game 3 — 6 p.m.
