UCLA Baseball: Pettway, ‘Pen Combine to Shut St. Mary’s Out, 5-0

After the Bruins took the series opener last night 5-0, the UCLA baseball team will look to win the weekend series against St. Mary’s when the teams meet again this afternoon. First pitch this afternoon was originally scheduled for 2 pm PT, but has been moved to 3 pm PT due to the weather in Westwood.

Last Time Out

Zach Pettway struck out 13 batters and gave up no runs over 6²⁄₃ innings en route to his first win of the season last night. It was the strongest start Pettway has had in a Bruin uniform. He scattered just three hits and walked no one. It was Pettway’s first win of the season.

Meanwhile, the Bruin bats picked up where they left off after Tuesday’s win over Loyola Marymount. In the bottom of the third, third baseman Jake Moberg led off with a single. He moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Prendiz and to third on a grounder to short by Garrett Mitchell. That brought up freshman Michael Curialle, who doubled down the left field line to score Moberg.

While that would be enough to win the game, the Bruins weren’t done yet.

Redshirt freshman first baseman JT Schwartz got the inning started with a double ro right and he advanced to third on a grounder to first by Kyle Cuellar. A wild pitch by St. Mary’s starter Carlos Lomeli allowed Schwartz to score. A pitch later, Lomeli plunked Jarron Silva to send him to first. A single to short by Noah Cardenas moved Silva to second and brought Moberg back to the plate. With an 0-1 count, Moberg singled Silva home to give UCLA a 2-0 lead.

Pettway left the game with two out in the seventh without allowing a run before being relieved by Michael Townsend who finished off the inning without giving up a run.

Kyle Mora pitched a a scoreless top of the eighth before UCLA added a pair of insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, but they weren’t needed as Holden Powell through a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.

Today’s Matchup

Today’s game will feature Nick Nastrini on the mound for UCLA and lefty Ty Madrigal on the hill for St. Mary’s. Last week against UC Riverside, Nastrini allowed just one run over five innings while giving up two hits and two walks and striking out five.

Meanwhile, Madrigal gave up two runs in five innings with five hits and a walk against Sam Houston State last weekend.

Personally, I’m looking for a similar result to last night’s game. By that, I mean I’m expecting a pretty easy UCLA win today even if it’s not necessarily a shutout.


Go Bruins!