UCLA
Gonzaga
Bruins Drop Game Two of the Weekend Series to Gonzaga, 6-1
May 02, 2015 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – No. 2 UCLA struggled to drive in runs and fell to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 6-1, on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The weekend series is now tied at one game apiece.
In total, the Bruins left 12 runners on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in today's contest. Furthermore, UCLA went just 3-for-18 with runners on base.
Brandon Bailey (7-2) threw seven scoreless innings, striking out four, to earn the victory for Gonzaga. UCLA starter Grant Watson (7-4) allowed two runs on four hits to garner the loss. At the plate, UCLA tallied nine hits, led by Darrell Miller Jr. (2-for-4, RBI) and Ty Moore (2-for-4, 2B) who each chipped in multi-hit performances.
Gonzaga (21-22) got the scoring started with a run in the opening frame. Mitchell Gunsolus led-off the game with a single and was eventually brought home on another single, this time with two outs, by Justin Jacobs to give the Bulldogs the early, 1-0, lead.
After going quietly through the first three innings, UCLA (32-11) had a prime chance to respond and break the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Luke Persico singled to begin the frame and Chris Keck followed with a double to right field to put runners on second and third with no outs. However, a pop-out, strikeout and fly-out followed and failed to produce the first run for the Bruins.
UCLA went on to squander a great opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning as well, leaving another pair of runners on base. Ty Moore began the frame with a deep double to the left-center field gap and was subsequently moved to third on a sacrifice-bunt by Persico. Keck followed with a walk to put runners on the corners with one out, but a strike out and pop-out later, UCLA still had nothing to show on the score board.
The Bulldogs made the Bruins pay for their missed opportunities with a five-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning, jumping out to a, 6-0, advantage. With two outs, Gunsolus drove in the first run with a single to left field. Then, following a walk, Taylor Jones drove in a pair on a single to right-center field and was next followed with a two-RBI single from Jacobs to grant Gonzaga the six-run edge.
The Bruins finally scratched in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull within five. Back-to-back walks set up Darrell Miller Jr. for an RBI-single, but that would mark the only run of the game for UCLA.
Game three between UCLA and Gonzaga is set for Sunday, May 3 at 1:00pm PT. Fans can tune into live audio on uclabruins.com.
Notes: Grant Watson made his 59th career start to set a new UCLA record for career starts, surpassing Alex Sanchez who amassed 58. Ty Moore recorded his 19th multi-hit game, second on the team. Darrell Miller Jr. recorded his second-straight multi-hit game, totaling nine on the season. Chase Radan made his first appearance of the season.
