UCLA
San Jose State
No. 2 UCLA Baseball Earns 12-2 Victory Over San Jose State
February 27, 2011 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2011
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LOS ANGELES - Freshman right-hander Adam Plutko (2-0) allowed one run and four hits through seven innings to earn the win, leading the No. 2 UCLA baseball team past San Jose State, 12-2, in the series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium late Sunday afternoon.
UCLA defeated San Jose State after losing an 8-3 decision to the visiting Spartans earlier in the day. The afternoon's first contest was the resumption of a suspended game (rain) from Friday that picked up at the start of the second inning on Sunday afternoon.
Plutko earned his second victory in as many starts, recording four strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander from Upland, Calif., made 97 pitches through seven innings and did not allow any hits through the first three frames.
San Jose State right-hander Andy Hennessey (0-1) absorbed the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits through 2.1 innings. UCLA scored seven runs off three San Jose State relief pitchers.
The Bruins (5-2) pounded out a season-high 22 hits en route to their 12-2 win. Jeff Gelalich (3-for-4, three runs), Cody Regis (3-for-4, three RBI), Beau Amaral (3-for-4, three runs) and Cody Keefer (3-for-5, two runs, one RBI) each netted three hits for the Bruins. Dean Espy went 2-for-5 with two runs and a season-best four RBI. Kevin Williams tallied three RBI, and Chris Giovinazzo went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Adrian Williams (2-for-5, one run) and Marc Navarro (2-for-4, one run) rounded out a group of eight Bruins to record at least two hits.
UCLA scored in five of its eight offensive innings. The Bruins got on the board with two runs in the first before adding three runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings.
The team's two-run first inning was ignited by the top of the lineup. Navarro led off with a walk and moved to second base on a single by Gelalich. After a double steal, Espy singled up the middle to score both baserunners.
In the third, the Bruins extended their margin to 5-0. UCLA loaded the bases to open the inning, before Kevin Williams lifted a sacrifice fly ball to the warning track in center field. Each runner advanced 90 feet, as Amaral scored. Regis followed with a two-run single on the first pitch of his at-bat, sending home Espy and Keefer.
The Bruins added three runs in the bottom of the fourth to lead, 8-1. Gelalich and Amaral reached on consecutive base-hits to begin the frame. Keefer scored Gelalich on a single to left field, and Kevin Williams sent home Amaral on a groundout. A base-hit through the left side by Regis brought home Keefer from second base.
UCLA's three run fifth inning was highlighted by Espy's two-run double down the left field line. Kevin Williams picked up his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Bruins scored their 12th run of the game in the sixth inning on a run-scoring single to right field by Giovinazzo.
The Bruins return to action at San Diego State on Tuesday, March 1. Game time at SDSU's Tony Gwynn Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. Fans can listen live online at uclabruins.com that evening.
Game Notes: UCLA produced its most hits since pounding out 23 in a 20-4 victory over Oral Roberts on March 20, 2010 ... Dean Espy collected four RBI for the first time since the regular-season finale last spring against Washington State (May 30, 2010) ... three freshmen pitchers limited San Jose State to two runs and five hits through nine innings in the series finale (Adam Plutko for seven innings; Zack Weiss and Nick Vander Tuig each for one inning) ... the Bruins' pitching staff has registered a 1.57 ERA through the team's first seven games, collecting 69 strikeouts and 20 walks in 63.0 innings.
