Seminoles bounce Bruins from CWS

Omaha, NE – Scott Sitz pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just one run as Florida State ended UCLA's season with a 4-1 victory in Tuesday's elimination game at TD Ameritrade Park.

Sitz, the Seminoles No. 3 starter, scattered five hits and walked just one while striking out eight to keep Florida State's season alive.

Sherman Johnson registered two hits and scored twice, while Jayce Boyd, Stephen McGee and Justin Gonzalez each plated a run for the Seminoles, who will play the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday.

Arizona defeated Florida State 4-3 in 12 innings to start the CWS, and the 'Noles will have to defeat the Wildcats twice to advance to the championship.

UCLA starter Zack Weiss struggled with his control in the first, walking Johnson to start the game before James Ramsey followed two batters later with a single through the left side.

Weiss then walked Boyd to load the bases before issuing a free pass to McGee on four pitches to chase in a run and end the right-hander's night.

Grant Watson entered and walked the first batter he faced to make it a two-run game, but induced an inning-ending double play from Josh Delph to escape any more damage.

Beau Amaral looped a single just over shortstop to start the fourth, giving the Bruins their first hit of the night, but the UCLA offense couldn't produce a run as Sitz continued to deal.

Florida State loaded the bases in the bottom half on three consecutive one-out singles before Boyd dropped down a bunt single. Johnson, who started the rally, scored from third and Travis crossed the plate on third baseman Kevin Kramer's throwing error to make it a 4-0 contest.

UCLA finally mounted a charge in the sixth as Kevin Williams walked, Amaral doubled and Tyler Heineman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cody Keefer then singled up the middle to score a run, but Sitz fanned three consecutive Bruins to escape the frame with a 4-1 lead.

Hunter Scantling came on in the seventh and retired four straight Bruins before Robert Benincasa fired a perfect ninth to nail down his 16th save of the year and keep the Seminoles alive for at least one more game.

Two-time defending champion South Carolina will take on the surprising Golden Flashes of Kent State on Wednesday in an elimination game, with the winner moving on to take on Arkansas on Thursday.