PLAYER OF THE GAME: RHP Adam Plutko, UCLA -- There could be a very good argument made for reliever David Berg or outfielder Eric Filia, who had four hits, in this category. However, we're going with the guy who put the Bruins in position to win this game -- Plutko. Plutko somehow didn't get drafted on Thursday or Friday, but showed why he's such a special pitcher in the win over the Titans. He struck out two, walked one and allowed a run on six hits in seven innings of work. He also threw 104 pitches, 69 for strikes.
TURNING POINT: The Bruins held a 2-1 advantage through the middle innings, but the Titans eventually tied things up at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning after the Bruins scored a run in the top of the frame. Well, the two teams went to extra innings, where the Bruins capped things off with a two-run 10th to take a 5-3 lead, and to get the win. Eric Filia had an RBI single to start the scoring, while Pat Valaika had a sacrifice fly to add an insurance run. As has been the case throughout the season, the Bruins were very opportunistic at the plate.
WHAT THEY SAID: "We lost, and we lost. We didn't catch the ball very good, we popped up really good. Our whole plan and work all week against Adam Plutko was to try and keep the ball out of the air and we didn't do that. I didn't think Justin Garza pounded the strike zone very well. They beat us. We gave them too much. When you are at this point in the season and you give away too much stuff, you lose and that is what happened. They were the better team tonight and tomorrow is a new day." -- Cal State Fullerton head coach Rick Vanderhook.
THE SKINNY: The Bruins and Titans have put together quite a baseball rivalry over the past few seasons, and Friday's series opener in the Fullerton Super Regional certainly didn't disappoint. The Bruins got another solid performance from right-handed pitcher Adam Plutko, while for the Titans, usually dominant Justin Garza was just OK, striking out six, walking one and allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings. For the Bruins, Eric Filia had four hits and leadoff hitter Brian Carroll added a two-hit performance. Meanwhile, on the mound, All-American right-handed pitcher David Berg prevailed, striking out four, walking one and allowing a run on three hits in three innings of work.