There was little fanfare on the field after Brian Carroll caught the final out of UCLA baseball’s 4-1 win over North Carolina on Friday, which put the Bruins into the College World Series final. The junior center fielder simply lowered his head and trotted to the infield to high-five his teammates.
It was a big moment for the Bruins, as the win advanced the team to the College World Series championship series for just the second time in school history, but they put the celebration on hold. The Bruins weren’t done yet.
With the win, UCLA will move on to play Mississippi State in the championship series, needing just two more wins to earn UCLA’s first baseball national championship.
The Bruins have gotten this far by sticking to who they are and not departing from their style of play.
“It’s about taking advantage of opportunities and not giving them any opportunities,” said junior designated hitter Kevin Williams.
This strategy has worked so far in the College World Series for UCLA. The Bruins have capitalized on their opponents’ mistakes, turning errors and wild pitches into runs. Meanwhile, UCLA’s strong pitching and defense continues to force opposing offenses to earn every run.
“When you look at their numbers and you watch them play several times, it’s obvious that they aren’t going to beat themselves. They’re a very good defensive team. … You’re going to have to earn it,” said Mississippi State coach John Cohen.
The Bruins (47-17) will have to work just as hard to earn a win against the Bulldogs (51-18), who beat Pac-12 champion Oregon State twice in the College World Series to make the championship series.
“So we’re going to respect the game. We’re going to respect the opponent. We’re going to respect the next two days in terms of preparation, getting ourselves ready and do what we do,” said UCLA coach John Savage.
The preparation UCLA has put in so far has paid off. The Bruins are undefeated in the postseason, defeating multiple teams ranked higher than themselves, and have positioned themselves on the doorstep of the school’s 109th national title.
“I’m very proud of our team,” Savage said. “We’ve still not accomplished what we came to do. But it’s on to the next round. And I can’t be happy enough and proud enough of our team.”