Bauer sets UCLA strikeout record, his teammates crank up offense in 11-3 CWS win over Florida

Bauer strikes out 11, Bruins win CWS opener 11-3

OMAHA, Neb. — Trevor Bauer struck out 11 in strong seven innings and set the UCLA season record, and the Bruins cranked up their offense to beat the Gators 11-3 in the College World Series on Saturday night.

The Bruins (49-14), who went two-and-out in each of their only two previous Omaha appearances, will play first-time CWS qualifier TCU in a Bracket 1 winners’ game on Monday night.

Florida (47-16), the No. 3 national seed, meets Florida State in a Monday afternoon elimination game.

The No. 6 seed Bruins, who relied mostly on pitching and defense to set a school record for wins, scored in all but one inning and banged out 18 hits. Niko Gallego went 4 for 5 and Beau Amaral 3 for 4.

They also took advantage of Florida’s pitching problems. Gators starter Andy Panteliodis and four others combined to hit four batters and throw four wild pitches, two of which resulted in UCLA runs. The Bruins also scored on a passed ball and an error.

Bauer (11-3) set the UCLA strikeout record in his last inning when he caught Jonathan Pigot looking at strike three. Bauer struck out Preston Tucker to end the seventh, giving him 11 for the game and 152 for the season. The sophomore from Valencia, Calif., has struck out 10 or more in seven of his 17 starts.

Bauer, who got the start instead of season-long No. 1 pitcher Gerrit Cole, allowed six hits before Erik Goeddel relieved him in the eighth.

The Bruins used a three-run third inning to take a 4-2 lead against Panteliodis. Niko Gallego came home to tie it 2-all when Blair Dunlap’s grounder went through third baseman Austin Maddox’s legs, and Amaral scored the go-ahead run on Panteliodis’ wild pitch.

Cody Regis’ up-the-middle single made it a two-run game, and the Bruins went ahead 5-2 in the fourth after Steve Rodriguez scored on catcher Mike Zunino’s passed ball.

Panteliodis (11-3) lasted just 3 1-3 innings. In his previous outing, Panteliodis had his first complete game and struck out 12 in a 7-2 super regional win over Miami.

Rodriguez hit a two-run single in the fifth off Florida reliever Jeff Barfield and Dean Espy scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to make it 8-3.

Brian Johnson hit a two-run single in the first and Josh Adams hit his ninth homer in the fourth for Florida’s scoring.

The Gators also get credit for the defensive play of the day. That goes to center fielder Matt den Dekker, who chases Brett Krill’s deep fly in the top of the fourth. Den Dekker was looking over his right shoulder, running directly at the wall, as the ball dropped over his head and into his right glove as he slid on his knees on the warning track.