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USC
UCLA Takes Weekend Series from USC with an 8-3 Victory in the Finale
April 12, 2015 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Bruins finished off their eighth consecutive series victory by defeating the USC Trojans, 8-3, on Sunday afternoon at Dedeaux Field. The win seals a 2-1 series triumph over USC and keeps the Bruins on top of the Pac-12 standings.
Freshman starter Griffin Canning (5-2) allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out three over five innings to earn the victory for UCLA. Fellow freshman Mitch Hart (5-1) received the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. David Berg threw two scoreless innings, allowing zero hits, to earn his eighth save.
The Bruins racked up 11 hits, the 15th time this season that the squad has reached the double-digit mark. Ty Moore (1-for-2, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB) drove in a trio of runs and Kevin Kramer (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI), Darrell Miller Jr. (2-for-4, HR, R, RBI) and Brett Stephens (2-for-3, 3B, R) each had multi-hit afternoons to aid the attack.
UCLA (25-7, 12-3) put a run on the board right away in the top of the first inning to jump out to the early one-run advantage over the Trojans. Kramer and Stephens recorded back-to-back singles to begin the game and each proceeded to move up a base on a sacrifice-bunt by Luke Persico. Clean-up hitter, Moore, then brought the game's opening run home on a sacrifice-fly to left field. The first inning-run marked the 15th time that the Bruins have scored in the opening frame this season.
USC (26-9, 8-4) answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the first to take a 2-1 lead over the Bruins. After Garrett Stubbs doubled, Jeremy Martinez reached on an errant throw from Kramer that allowed Stubbs to score from second. Then, with two outs, Dante Flores singled up the middle to plate Martinez and give the Trojans the one-run lead after one inning.
It was Moore delivering once again for UCLA in the top of the third inning to bring the score even at two. Stephens led off the frame with a triple to center field that carried over Timmy Robinson's head. Then, with one out, Moore did his job with an RBI-ground out to second base that brought in the Bruins' second run of the game.
Extending from the second through the fifth inning, Canning kept the Trojans at bay. After allowing the initial two runs, Canning rebounded to retire 12 consecutive batters while the Bruins looked to regain the lead.
Tied at two, UCLA broke out for a three-run sixth inning that featured a plethora of big plays. Back-to-back doubles from Persico and Moore resulted in the first run and Moore's third RBI of the contest. Then, after moving up to third on a fly-out, Moore scored the second run on a sac-fly by Kort Peterson which produced a big collision at the plate. The Bruin left fielder came crashing into USC catcher Garrett Stubbs to jar the ball loose. With two outs, Darrell Miller Jr. followed by launching a solo home run to left field that extended the UCLA lead to 5-2.
The Trojans would climb within two in the bottom half of the sixth on a sacrifice-fly from Martinez, but that would mark the final run for USC.
The Bruin bullpen committee of Tucker Forbes, Grant Dyer and Berg would come on in relief of Canning to finish off the final four innings without allowing a run. In total, the group allowed zero hits and struck out two batters to stymy the USC offense.
Already claiming a two-run edge, the Bruins secured three more runs in the top of the ninth to add some insurance. RBI-singles from Kramer and Brett Urabe, paired with a sac-fly from Persico, brought the Bruins to the eventual final tally, 8-3.
UCLA will next battle non-conference foe, Cal State Fullerton, on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:00pm PT. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks. Fans can also access live audio at uclabruins.com. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting uclabruins.com/tickets or by calling 310-UCLA-WIN.
Notes: UCLA is now 14-1 when scoring in the first inning, 19-0 when leading after six innings, 20-0 when leading after seven innings and 22-0 when leading after eight innings. The Bruins are now 8-0 in weekend series this season. In 11 Pac-12 Conference appearances, David Berg has allowed zero runs, going 2-0 with six saves and 23 strikeouts over 19 innings. Ty Moore drove in a team-high six runs this weekend, going 3-for-9 with a home run, a double, two runs and three walks.
