It took LSU and UC Irvine more than four hours to create a competitive buzz at Jackie Robinson Stadium in the first game of the Los Angeles regional Friday.
It took UCLA just four innings to squelch it.
In the nightcap against fourth-seeded Kent State, the top-seeded Bruins played the ungracious hosts, jumping ahead by a dozen runs after four and cruising the rest of the way in a 15-1 victory.
On the mound, it was a tale of two starters. UCLA sophomore Gerrit Cole gave up just one hit and one walk in five shutout innings before being pulled after just 78 pitches, perhaps allowing for the possibility that he will pitch again later in the weekend.
Kent State starter Robert Sabo, meanwhile, struggled with his command from the onset. Sabo walked three Bruins and hit three more before being lifted in the third inning. He was charged with seven runs, two of them coming in the first inning to put the Golden Flashes in an early hole.
The Bruins got offensive contributions from just about everyone in their lineup in pounding out 15 hits. Junior outfielder Chris Giovinazzo drove in three runs on a pair of hits, and catcher Steve Rodriguez and outfielder Beau Amaral each recorded two hits and two RBI.
It looked like Sabo would be able to limit the damage after UCLA loaded the bases with nobody out in the first but scored just twice. He pitched a scoreless second before the Bruin bats struck for five runs in both the third and the fourth. UCLA tacked on three more runs in the sixth, and Kent State picked up one in the ninth to round out the scoring.
UCLA will face LSU and their ace Anthony Ranaudo in the winners’ bracket Saturday evening. The first game of the day will feature UC Irvine and Kent State, with the loser being eliminated.
Compiled by Ryan Eshoff, Bruin Sports senior staff.