Roundup: UCLA battles for a CWS natty

And then there were two: UCLA and Mississippi State are set to clash for the NCAA title at the College World Series in Omaha with game 1 of the best-of-three series happening tonight at 5 p.m. PT. This, of course, comes on the heels of UCLA besting the UNC Tar Heels 4-1 Friday night to advance to the title series. As our David Lombardi points out, it has been all pitching and defense for the Bru Cru, who are hitting just .182 in Omaha.  

As you can tell from the UCLA links, Oregon State's season is finished after the Beavers lost to Mississippi State 4-1 on Friday. As Lindsay Schnell notes in her article for The Oregonian, the Beavers just couldn't get hits when they needed them. Still, a school-record 52 wins is very commendable.    

This from the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines: Arizona alumnus Brigetta Barrett set a personal best and won the USA title in the high jump with an effort of 6-8.25ft./2.04m. As such, she will be headed to Moscow for the IAAF World Championships later this summer (along with fellow Wildcats Alyssa Hasslen and Julie Labonté).    

More from the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines: Laura Roesler set a PR in the 800 while former Ducks Galen Rupp and Becky Holliday earned spots on Team USA for the World Championships.    

Stanford head football coach David Shaw ponders the question "Can football change the world?" at the latest TEDxStanford event. Heck of a talk Shaw gives here.    

Wish I was in Seattle to see the show that was Washington's wild and packed alumni basketball game. Think fans in Seattle would like to see the Sonics come back to town?    

The starting QB job won't be decided until fall camp, but Connor Wood is embracing the role of Colorado's top quarterback. Like he was last year, Wood is the leading candidate for the starting job out of spring ball (Jordan Webb beat him out in fall camp last year, of course).    

There's a new O-lineman in Pullman, as Washington State football added Devonte McClain to its 2013 signing class. The East Palo Alto, Calif., native spent his last two years playing at the College of San Mateo, a place that also spawned current Cougs Justin Sagote and Lyman Faoliu.    

If you liked how Herb Sendek picked up the pace in 2012-13, you should really like this headline: Arizona State aims to play even faster in 2013-14. Can't wait to see Jahii Carson hit the court again.    

Well deserved, sir: Cal head coach Steve Desimone was named national golf coach of the year, winning the Dave Williams Award after leading the Golden Bears to a modern-era NCAA-record 12 tournament victories in 14 stroke-play events over the course of the 2012-13 season.    

Here is a new letter from USC AD Pat Haden on the Coliseum meetings. If you want USC to have operational responsibility over the Coliseum (and the Sports Arena), you're encouraged to show up at a public meeting tomorrow morning at the California Science Center to voice your support.    

Sad news coming out of Salt Lake City, where former Utah ski coach Pat Miller died Saturday. He coached the Utes to nine NCAA skiing championships.