UCLA Baseball Wins Series; Looks for Sweep Today Against WSU

The UCLA Bruins Baseball team (10-7; 2-0 PAC 12) won their PAC 12 season opening series against the Washington State Cougars (7-11; 0-2 PAC 12) last night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins, who wore their camouflage uniforms yesterday in appreciation of the nation's military, will look for the series sweep this afternoon.

UCLA never led in the game, until Brett Stephens scored Daniel Amaral on a walk-off single to left field in the bottom of the 12th inning, ending the game. Stephens was mobbed at first base . . .

Brett Stephens, go ahead and just walk it off kid. #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/1fjpr8u7n9

— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) March 20, 2016

Closer, Brian Gadsby, picked up the win in an excellent outing, retiring all ten batters he faced in 3 and 1/3 innings of relief. Jake Bird also pitched 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings. Although Grant Dyer's return to the the mound did not pan out as he had hoped, Dyer never conceded the "big inning," allowing WSU to score only one run in each of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings.

UCLA left way too many runners on base (14), and was outhit by Wazzou, ten to seven. Nevertheless, UCLA managed to get the win even though they were not at their best.

The Bruins were losing 4-1 after five innings, but managed to scrape up three runs to tie the game in the bottom of the 6th inning. WSU walked the based loaded with one out, and Sean Bouchard doubled home two runs, with Christoph Bono stopping at third. Bono later tied the game at 4-4 on a wild pitch. Three runs on one hit--the epitome of the UCLA small ball.

The teams exchanged runs in the 7th inning, with the Cougars' cashing in on a Cameron Frost solo home run. UCLA tied the game in the bottom half of the frame on a Luke Persico single, a wild pitch, and an RBI single from Sean Bouchard.

UCLA seeks the sweep today at JRS. Freshman righty Kevin Molnar  (1-1, 5.21 ERA) takes the hill for the Bruins and the first pitch is at 12 p.m. PT. Molnar seems to be improving with each start. Washington State will counter with another freshman right hander, Parker McFadden (2-0, 3.86 ERA). It should be a nice day for baseball with morning coastal fog giving way to a sunny afternoon.

Come out to JRS to take in the game! If you cannot, you can still watch on the PAC 12 Network. Of course, as usual, John Ramey and Tim Wilhelm will have the call via streaming online audio. You can also follow tonight’s game via live statistics.

This is your UCLA v. Washington State Baseball Game Three open thread.

C'mon, Bruins let's get the sweep! Go Bruins!