Bruins Win 5-2 to Even Series with Gauchos; Rubber Game Today
UCLA baseball defeated UCSB yesterday, 5-2, due to a strong performance from starter Sean Mullen and the Bruin bullpen.

Yesterday, UCLA visited UC Santa Barbara and the Bruins won the game, 5-2, to even the series at one game each. This afternoon, the teams return to Jackie Robinson Stadium for the rubber game of the weekend series. First pitch today is scheduled for 2 pm PT. While the game won’t be televised, it will be livestreamed.
Last Time Out
In our preview of yesterday’s UCLA baseball game, I concluded by writing, “[T]he winner will likely be the team which gets to the other one’s bullpen first.” And, I was correct. For six innings, it was an absolute pitcher’s duel between UCLA’s Sean Mullen and UCSB’s Rodney Boone.
In the bottom of the first, UCSB got on the board when left fielder Broc Mortensen hit a solo home run with two outs. It was the only run that Mullen allowed.
The Bruins got it right back in the top of the second when Kyle Karros put a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall and the game remained tied 1-1 until the top of the seventh.
At that point, Karros got a Bruin rally going with a lead-off walk. That sent the Gauchos to the bullpen with Carter Benbrook taking over for Boone. Karros was bunted over to second by Mikey Perez and he advanced to third on a single by Michael Curialle. An error by Mortensen allowed Karros to score, giving UCLA a 2-1 lead. The Bruins doubled their lead when Jon Jon Vaughns hit a two-out RBI double which scored Curialle. UCLA missed out on a chance to score more when Vaughns got caught in a rundown between third and home after Kevin Kendall reached on an infield single. Thankfully, it didn’t matter, but it was still bad baserunning on Vaughn’s part.
The bottom half of the inning saw Michael Townsend relieve Mullen to start the inning and he quickly picked up two outs on a strikeout and grounder to third. But Gaucho head coach Andrew Checketts sent Kyle Johnson to pinch-hit for catcher Gianni Bloom. Johnson sent a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence to narrow UCLA’s lead to 3-2. That chased Townsend and John Savage turned to Adrian Chaidez, but he didn’t have his stuff and was done after walking back-to-back batters. So, Savage turned to Bruin closer Max Rajcic for the final out of the seventh and he got Mortensen to ground out to first.
The Bruins threatened in the eighth when Jake Moberg drew a two-out walk and Karros singled, but Perez struck out to end the inning. Meanwhile, Rajcic sent the Gauchos down in order to send it to ninth.
The top of the ninth saw the Bruins add a couple of insurance runs. Curialle got the rally going with a lead-off single and a stolen base. With two outs, Kendall singled to score Curialle and Pat Caulfield followed with an RBI double which scored Kendall. After eight and a half innings, the Bruins had a 5-2 lead.
Rajcic pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Mullen got his ninth win of the season for his six innings of work in which he allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out six.
Today, John Savage will send Jessie Bergin (4-3, 4.66 ERA) to the hill for the Bruins. He’ll go up against freshman right-hander Cory Lewis (4-3, 3.76 ERA) who will get the start for UCLA. After playing yesterday’s game in Santa Barbara, the split-venue series concludes back in Westwood. Look for Savage to give Bergin a quick hook in this one if he looks shaky early.
#22 UCLA Baseball (29-16)
Opponent: UCSB Gauchos (31-17)
Game Time: 2:00 pm PT, Sunday, May 16, 2021
Where: Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Live TV/Audio: None
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Probable Pitchers:
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Jr. (4-3, 4.66 ERA)
UCSB - Cory Lewis, RHP, Fr. (4-3, 3.76 ERA)
Weekend Notes:
This is your UCLA baseball vs. UCSB game three open thread.
Go Bruins!!
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