UCLA Baseball: Bruin Bats Go Silent Against Bears; Rubber Game Today

Last night, the Bruin bats went quiet as UCLA could only muster three hits against UC Berkeley starter Jared Horn, who went 8¹⁄₃ innings and only gave up one run. Meanwhile, UCLA starter Ryan Garcia had another strong start, but Nate Hadley gave up three runs in the seventh and that was the difference.

The Bruins’ only run of the game came in the third inning. Kevin Kendall walked and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Golden Bears catcher. John Savage had Will McInerny bunt Kendall over to third. A sacrifice fly by Garrett Mitchell brought Kendall home. That gave UCLA a 1-0 lead.

UC Berkeley tied it up with a sacrifice fly of their own in the top of the fourth.

In the seventh, the Bears got a two-run homer from Cameron Eden to break the tie along with an insurance run on a solo shot by Andrew Vaughn.

UCLA’s best threat of the night, other than the run they actually scored, came in the bottom of the ninth. Jack Stronach drew a one-out walk. That brought Michael Toglia to the plate. He singled to give the Bruins runners on first and second with still just one out. That sent UC Berkeley to the bullpen for their closer Arman Sabouri. Jake Pries came to bat and he represented the tying run for UCLA. Unfortunately, Sabouri got both Pries and Matt McLain looking, ending both the Bruins’ threat and the game.

This afternoon, the teams will meet in the rubber game of this weekend’s series. Jack Ralston takes the mound for the Bruins while UC Berkeley’s pitcher will be freshman Grant Holman. Holman is a righty with a 2-1 record and a 3.70 ERA. Interestingly, when Holman isn’t on the mound, he’s also been a utility player for the Bears. He has a .246 batting average so far this season and he will bat eighth today as the Bears opt to skip the DH.

This is your UCLA vs. UC Berkeley rubber game open thread.


Go Bruins!!!