UCLA
San Francisco
No. 2 UCLA Baseball Sweeps San Francisco With 3-0 Shutout
February 20, 2011 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2011
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LOS ANGELES - Freshman right-hander Adam Plutko earned the victory in his first collegiate start on Sunday, throwing six shutout innings to lead the No. 2 UCLA baseball team past San Francisco, 3-0, under sunny skies at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Plutko (1-0) struck out four batters and walked one, scattering two hits, to help the Bruins sweep San Francisco. UCLA (3-0) earned victories over the visiting Dons (0-3) on Friday, 1-0, and on Saturday, 4-1.
Right-hander Zack Weiss, left-hander Mitchell Beacom and right-hander Nick Vander Tuig combined for three innings of scoreless relief. Vander Tuig picked up his second save in as many days, striking out two batters in the ninth inning.
The Bruins limited San Francisco to one unearned run and 12 hits in 27 innings over the weekend.
UCLA was led at the plate in the series finale by Beau Amaral (2-for-4, one double, one run) and Cody Keefer (2-for-3, two runs). The Bruins also received a clutch pinch-hit RBI-double from freshman Pat Gallagher, making his collegiate debut in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Bruins scored one run in each of the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. UCLA got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on consecutive extra-base hits from the top of the lineup. Amaral drilled a one-out double off the top of the right-center field wall. On the next at-bat, Jeff Gelalich lifted a triple to straight-away center field, scoring Amaral.
UCLA added its second run in the sixth inning. After leading off the frame getting hit by a pitch, Keefer moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Giovinazzo. Pinch-hitter Pat Gallagher skied a fly ball to the gap in left-center field for a double, allowing Keefer to score.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bruins scored an insurance run on a fielder's choice. With Keefer at third base and one out, Tyler Heineman bounced a grounder to first baseman Alex Balog, who fired a low throw to catcher Mason Morioka. Keefer was safe at the plate, and Heineman advanced to second base on the throwing error.
UCLA returns to action against Pepperdine on Tuesday evening. Game time at Jackie Robinson Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. Admission to the Bruins' Tuesday contests costs $2 for adults and children. Parking costs $7.
Game Notes: UCLA recorded its second shutout in the last three days, giving the Bruins their most shutouts in a single season since 2008 - that year, UCLA totaled five shutouts ... over the three-game series, UCLA limited its opposition to one run (unearned), 12 hits and a .132 batting average ... the Bruins' pitching staff has totaled 32 strikeouts and eight walks through 27 innings ... Jeff Gelalich had the most productive weekend at the plate for UCLA, batting .556 (5-for-9) with one triple, one double, two runs and two stolen bases.
