The Bruins gave up three runs in the first inning against Loyola Marymount and not another run the rest of the game, but the offense couldn't muster enough to beat the Lions tonight at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins had a few opportunities to even up the game, but bad luck and some poor execution did them in as they dropped to 10-15 on the year.
UCLA fell behind early when starting pitcher Matt Grace surendered three first inning runs to the Lions, all with two out. The Lions had a man on second with two out when a catcher's interference call put another man on base. LMU's Ollie Enos then hit a double down the left field line, scoring two. Brad Bauer followed that up with a single, scoring Enos and putting LMU up 3-0 after one.
The Bruins tried to get some of that back in their half of the first when they put runners on first and second with one out, but Justin Uribe hit into a line drive double play to end the inning.
Grace gave way to Rob Rasmussen with two out in the second inning and the Bruins grabbed the bats in their half of the second, only to leave a man in scoring position again. Alex Weber-Shapiro hit a one out double, but a strike out followed by a pop up sent both teams to the third.
UCLA got one run back in the third when Eddie Murray walked with two out and scored on Casey Haerther's double to make it 3-1. Uribe was unlucky again when he hit another line drive right at the first baseman, ending the third inning with another man left in scoring position.
The Bruins got another run back in the fifth thanks to a newcomer, Adrian Williams. Williams, a freshman shortstop, got the start tonight instead of the regular Niko Gallego who has been struggling mightily. It was Williams' first collegiate appearance and he chipped in with a one out double in the fifth. After Williams took third on a wild pitch and Blair Dunlap walked to put runners on the corners, Murray hit a single up the middle to plate the freshman and make it 3-2. Haerther walked next to load the bases, but Uribe's rough night continued when he hit into an inning ending double play.
Garett Claypool replaced Rasmussen to start the sixth and retired two batters, but allowed a double so head coach John Savage played the matchup game and brought in the lefty Mitchell Beacom to get the last out of the inning. Beacom hit the first batter of the seventh inning, which ended his day. Brendan Lafferty came in for Beacom and got the Bruins out of the seventh unscathed.
UCLA's struggles with runners in scoring position continued in the bottom of the seventh when Marc Navarro led off the inning with a double. Williams failed to get the bunt down before grounding out to third and the next two batters were retired, leaving Navarro on second base.
Gavin Brooks entered the game in the ninth inning and didn't allow a run, giving the Bruins one more chance to even up the game. They were able to put a runner on first with one out, but he never advanced any further and the game ended 3-2.
UCLA was led at the plate by Murray and Haerther who were each 2-3 with a RBI, while Murray chipped in a run. The Bruin bullpen was outstanding, allowing no runs and only four hits in their 7.1 innings, but the offense couldn't get it done. UCLA will next take to the field on Friday when they begin a three game Pac 10 series in Pullman against Washington St.