UCLA Baseball Evens Series vs. WSU with Comeback Victory, Seeks Series Win Today
Last night, the Bruins scored three runs in the ninth inning to come back and win the ballgame, 7-6.
The UCLA baseball team found itself on the wrong end of a 6-4 score last night versus Washington State going into the ninth inning. But the Bruins (26-15, 13-10) were able to rally to score three runs and take a 7-6 lead, and closer Max Rajcic shut the door on the Cougars (23-18, 10-13) in the bottom half of the frame, earning his fourth save of the season.
With the win, UCLA evened the series in Pullman. This afternoon, the Bruins seek the road series win.
Last Time Out
Yesterday afternoon, UCLA got on the board in the top of the first inning. With two outs, JT Schwartz was hit by a pitch. Josh Hahn followed with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Schwartz from first. The Bruins led 1-0.
Washington State tied the game in the bottom of the second. After a single, walk, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, starting pitcher Sean Mullen walked the next Cougar on four pitches.
UCLA immediately answered in the top of the third with two runs to take a 3-1 lead. Jarron Silva doubled to start the frame and Schwartz was hit by a pitch (again). Hahn singled to score Silva and, after Schwartz advanced to third on a Kyle Cuellar fly out, he scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Kyle Karros.
Wazzu would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, 4-3, when two walks and a home run by Kyle Manzardo flipped the script. Mullen would not pitch after the fourth inning, allowing four runs in four innings on two hits, but also six walks.
Manzardo hurt the Bruins again in the bottom of the sixth, when he hit an RBI double down the right field line with two outs. The hit extended Washington State’s lead to 5-3.
Both teams would plate runs in the eighth inning. UCLA cut the lead to 5-4 after Schwartz singled, took second on a throwing error, advanced the third on a passed ball, and scored on a Cuellar sacrifice fly. Wazzu answered in the bottom half of the frame, when a single and an RBI double pushed the lead back to two runs, 6-4.
In the ninth, UCLA was down to its last three outs. But Noah Cardenas was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a JonJon Vaughns single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and, after a strikeout, Pat Caulfield tied the game with a single up the middle, scoring both Cardenas and Vaughns. Schwartz singled and Jake Moberg was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Cuellar singled to right field to give UCLA a 7-6 lead and load the bases again, but UCLA was not able score any more runners after Karros struck out swinging and Mikey Perez flew out.
The Bruins didn’t need it.
Rajcic came on to pitch the ninth and, although he allowed a lead-off single, he retired the next three Cougars with a strike out and two fielder’s choices to end the game.
Today, UCLA will send junior right hander Jessie Bergin to the mound to face the Cougars. Washington State has not announced its starting pitcher.
UCLA Baseball (26-15, 13-10)
Opponent:Â Washington State Cougars (23-18, 10-13)
Game Time:Â 1:05 pm PT, Sunday, May 9, 2021
Where:Â Bailey-Brayton Field, Pullman, WA
Live TV/Audio:Â None
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
Probable Pitchers:
UCLA -Â Jesse Bergin, RHP, Jr. (4-3, 3.86 ERA)
WSU - TBA
Weekend Notes:
This is your UCLA baseball vs. Washington State game three open thread.
Go Bruins!!
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