It started in the second inning and carried through the ninth. From start to finish Arizona was the better team and the 19-5 final score was a very accurate assesment of the game at Jackie Robinson Stadium today. UCLA sent Rob Rasmussen to the mound as he hoped to turn around a bad run of form, but it wasn't to be as the southpaw allowed eight runs in three innings of work. While the 19 runs are a good indicator of the UCLA pitching today, it was also a good indicator of the Bruin fielding. The Bruins made three errors, which accounted for six unearned runs.
Arizona got the first runs of the game when they hit back to back homers in the second inning. The Wildcats' top hitter Dillon Baird hit the first homer, a high fly ball that just squeezed inside the right field foul pole. While there was some question as to whether that home run was fair or not, there was no doubt about the second one as it was a line drive shot well over the center field fence by Shaun Cooper.
The Wildcats removed any doubt over the outcome of the game in the fourth inning when they tallied eight. The Cats had only four hits, but benefitted from two walks, a hit by pitch and two errors as they chased Rasmussen and took a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Bruins got on the board in the bottom half of the inning when Justin Uribe doubled to right field, bringing Eddie Murray around the score.
Things just got worse for the Bruins in the fifth though when Arizona brought five more guys home. This time the Bruins didn't help out with any errors, it was just the Wildcats smacking the ball all over the field. It started with a solo home run to make it 11-1. Then with two out Arizona put six consecutive batters on base and four scored to make it 15-1.
UCLA scored two more in the bottom half of the inning and two more in the seventh, but Arizona put two of their own on the board in the eighth and again in the ninth to give us our 19-5 final score.
Starter Rob Rasmussen went three innings and allowed eight runs, six earned. He was relieved by Mitchell Beacom who gave up four, two earned in 1.2 innings and Beacom was followed by Brendan Lafferty who gave up five runs, all earned in 2.2 innings. Garett Claypool was the only Bruin pitcher not o give up a run as he went 0.2 innings before Erik Goeddel went one inning and allowed two runs, both unearned.
Alex Weber-Shapiro was the only Bruin with multiple hits as he went 3-4 on the day with three doubles and a run. Marc Navarro was 1-2 as a substitute with a triple and RBI.
The Bruins and Wildcats will take to the field one more time tomorrow at 1 pm PDT in the rubber game of this three game set. Charles Brewer will take his 1-2 record and 4.00 ERA to the hill for the Bruins, while Arizona will send Bryce Bandilla's 2-1 record and 6.23 ERA to the bump.