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No. 24 UCLA Baseball Opens Pac-10 Play With 8-4 Win at USC
March 25, 2011 | Baseball
March 25, 2011
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LOS ANGELES - The No. 24 UCLA baseball team defeated USC, 8-4, in both teams' Pac-10 opening contest at Dedeaux Field on Friday night. The Bruins (10-7) earned their 14th win in the last 18 meetings against USC (8-14).
UCLA overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run fourth inning and pulled ahead by a 7-3 margin with a three-run sixth inning. The Bruins secured their seventh victory in the last eight meetings against USC at Dedeaux Field.
Dean Espy powered UCLA's offense with a 3-for-5 effort, one run and one RBI. Steve Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a three-RBI double and one run, and Tyler Rahmatulla went 1-for-4 with one double and one run.
UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole (2-2) earned the victory, limiting USC to four runs and eight hits through 6.2 innings. Cole tallied seven strikeouts and issued three walks in his sixth start of the season.
USC right-hander Andrew Triggs (2-2) absorbed the loss, surrendering four runs and five hits through 4.2 innings. Triggs and six Trojans' relief pitchers combined to limit UCLA to eight hits but walked seven batters.
The Trojans claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run to left field by James Roberts, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run. USC added one run in the third inning, claiming a 2-0 cushion on a run-scoring single by Ricky Oropesa, who finished the night going 3-for-4 with one homer, two RBI and one run.
UCLA broke through with four runs in the top of the fourth to earn a 4-2 lead. Rahmatulla led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. A sharp single to left field by Espy sent home Rahmatulla. Cody Regis followed with a base-hit to left field and Jeff Gelalich was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A two-out double to left field by Rodriguez scored all three baserunners for UCLA.
Oropesa's solo homer to right-center field with two outs in the fifth reduced the Bruins' lead to 4-3.
The Bruins opened the top of the sixth by drawing four consecutive walks, the final of which scored Gelalich for UCLA's fifth run of the game. A line drive by Chris Giovinazzo ricocheted off the glove of shortstop James Roberts and into shallow left field for an error, allowing Pat Valaika to score. A sacrifice fly to center field by Cody Keefer sent home Rodriguez.
UCLA and USC each scored one run in the eighth inning.
Left-hander Mitchell Beacom struck out three batters and issued one walk in 1.1 hitless innings of relief for UCLA. Right-hander Nick Vander Tuig closed the game, throwing a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation.
The Bruins continue their three-game series at USC on Saturday. Game time at Dedeaux Field is 6 p.m. Fans can listen to a live audio broadcast online, free of charge, at uclabruins.com.
Game Notes: UCLA improved to 5-0 when scoring at least six runs ... Dean Espy is one of two Bruins to have recorded multiple hits in a team-high five games (first three-hit game of the year for Espy) ... all but one position player (for UCLA) to register a plate appearance reached base safely via a hit or walk ... Steve Rodriguez logged a season-high three RBI with his bases-clearing double in the fourth inning ... the Bruins have won seven of their last eight games against USC at the Trojans' ballpark (Dedeaux Field) ... Mitchell Beacom has tallied 16 strikeouts and two walks in 9.2 innings this season ... Gerrit Cole became the fifth pitcher in school history to eclipse the 300-strikeout plateau (currently has 304 career strikeouts).
