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No. 20 UCLA Baseball Loses Series Opener at Stanford, 7-4
April 21, 2011 | Baseball
April 21, 2011
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STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 20 UCLA baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to Stanford in a Pac-10 contest at Sunken Diamond on Thursday evening. Stanford snapped a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning with one run before adding three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Stanford right-hander Mark Appel (3-4) earned the victory, limiting the Bruins (20-13, 9-4 Pac-10) to three runs and nine hits through seven innings. Appel struck out six batters and walked three in the series opener.
UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole (4-4) was charged with the loss, surrendering a season-high six runs and nine hits through 6.1 innings. Cole had one strikeout, issued one walk and hit one batter.
The Cardinal (18-12, 4-6 Pac-10) belted three home runs, including a solo blast from Stephen Piscotty, who finished 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Zach Jones went 1-for-2 with one home run, three RBI and two runs.
UCLA's Dean Espy went 3-for-5 with one run, and Cody Regis extended his hitting streak to a season-high 14 games, going 1-for-2 with one RBI and one walk. Pat Valaika went 2-for-4 with a team-high two runs.
Stanford claimed a 3-0 lead on a three-run two-out homer by Jones in the second inning.
UCLA answered with one pair of runs in the top of the third, slicing Stanford's cushion to 3-2. With runners at first and second base, Regis lined a single up the middle, scoring Beau Amaral. Chris Giovinazzo followed with an RBI-double to left field, sending home Dean Espy.
The Bruins tied the contest, 3-3, with one run in the top of the sixth. Pat Valaika reached on a single to right-center field with two outs, moved to second base on an infield single by Jeff Gelalich and scored on Amaral's base-hit to left field.
Stanford reclaimed the lead with one run in the bottom of the sixth before adding three runs in the seventh. The Cardinal took a 4-3 advantage in the sixth on a two-out single to center field by Brian Guymon. In the seventh, Stanford received back-to-back home runs from Tyler Gaffney, a two-run shot, and Piscotty to build a 7-3 cushion.
UCLA added one unearned run in the top of the eighth, bringing the potential game-tying run to the plate with two outs. With two runners on base, Amaral lifted a pop up that was dropped on the left side of the infield by Stanford shortstop Kenny Diekroeger, allowing Valaika to score.
The Bruins continue their three-game series at Stanford on Friday. Game time at Sunken Diamond is 5:30 p.m. Fans can listen to a live audio broadcast of Friday evening's game online, free of charge, at uclabruins.com. Saturday's series finale will begin at 1 p.m.
Game Notes: Cody Regis extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest such streak by a Bruin since Beau Amaral had a 15-game hitting streak in April and May of 2010 ... Beau Amaral extended his hitting streak to a season-long 10 games ... Mitchell Beacom recorded three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief ... the Bruins' pitching staff had not allowed three home runs in one game since May 2, 2010 against Arizona State ... an opponent had not belted back-to-back homers against UCLA since March 28, 2009 (Arizona) ... UCLA moved into a three-way tie for second place with Arizona State and California (each 9-4 in Pac-10 play).
