UCLA Baseball: Toglia’s Five RBIs Lead Bruins Past East Carolina, 7-5

Last night, UCLA starter Zach Pettway did not have his best stuff. In fact, he was chased after just 3²⁄₃ innings after giving up four runs on three hits and six walks. Thank goodness for the Bruin bullpen.

That’s because UCLA’s relievers combined for five shutout innings which allowed the offense to catch up.

The Bruins started the scoring in the second inning when Jack Stronach doubled and later scored on a Matt McLain triple as UCLA took a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the Pirates got the run back right away in the top of the third, but Noah Cardenas homered to start the bottom of the third, allowing the Bruins to retake the lead, 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Pettway loaded the bases with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single to left. Bruin head coach John Savage had seen enough and he went to the bullpen and brought in Jack Filby, but that didn’t work out so well for UCLA. Filby immediately gave up a two-run single and he followed that by giving up a two-run double as ECU took a 5-2 lead.

The Bruins came back to tie it in the sixth. UCLA’s rally began with a walk to Ryan Kreidler and a single to Chase Strumpf. After an ECU pitching change, Michael Toglia took a 2-2 pitch deep to right for a three-run homer which tied the game, 5-5.

Toglia came through again. This time, it was with a two-run double to left-center after a pair of two-out walks. That gave the Bruins a 7-5 lead and Holden Powell was able to work his way out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the ninth for his ninth save of the season.

This afternoon, the Bruins and the Pirates will play a doubleheader. Game one starts at 2 pm PT and game two will beginsoon after the conclusion of the first game.

This is your UCLA Bruins vs. East Carolina Pirates Game Two and Game Three Doubleheader open thread.


Go Bruins!!!