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UCLA Drops Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic Finale, 8-4, to USC
March 09, 2015 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Bruins were defeated, 8-4, by the USC Trojans in front of 14,688 fans in the finale of the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic on Saturday afternoon.
USC freshman starter Mitch Hart (3-0) earned the win, allowing four runs and eight hits over 5.2 innings. UCLA junior Cody Poteet (2-1) received the loss after allowing four runs and eight hits in 3.2 innings. Tyler Gilbert came on in relief to pitch 3.1 innings and earn his first save of the year for the Trojans.
UCLA (11-4) finished with double-digit hits for the eighth time this season. Seven different Bruins recorded hits, including three players with multi-hit afternoons. Freshman Sean Bouchard (3-for-4, 1 run) led the way with a career-high three hits.
USC (15-1) wasted no time getting started, leading the game off with a triple from Bobby Stahel. The next batter attempted a squeeze bunt which Poteet snuffed out, cutting the runner down at the plate, to prevent the early run. However, two batters later, the Trojans got on the board with an RBI single from Timmy Robinson to gain the early 1-0 lead.
The Trojans would add one more in each of the next two innings, including a solo home run from A.J. Ramirez to stretch the edge to 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the third, UCLA bounced back, putting three runs on the board, to even the score, 3-3. A Bouchard single, followed by Christoph Bono's first home run of the year brought UCLA within one run. Then, Kramer and Persico singled to set up Ty Moore's RBI double to left center that knotted the game at three after three innings.
USC didn't wait long to take back the lead, getting a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead over the Bruins.
Senior Chris Keck tried to get the Bruins back in the game in sixth inning when he took a 3-2 pitch deep into the right field corner for a double. After reaching third on a wild pitch, Keck then scampered home on a Darrell Miller Jr. groundout to cut the deficit to two runs.
However, that marked the end of the Bruins scoring for the night. The Trojans would eventually add two more to their total in the seventh and claim an 8-4 victory.
UCLA will be back on the field on Tuesday, March 10 when they face the Pepperdine Waves at 3:00pm PT in Malibu, Calif. Fans can listen live at uclabruins.com.
Notes: David Berg recorded his fifth consecutive scoreless inning in relief. The Bruins added their 14th home run, coming from sixth different player.
