UCLA
1-2
North Carolina
2-1
#10 UCLA Drops Series Finale to UNC
February 22, 2016 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The #10 UCLA Bruins dropped the final game of a three-game series with North Carolina, 14-5, on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. A late-inning surge by the Tar Heels earned them the series deciding victory.
Sean Bouchard (1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI) led the way offensively for the Bruins, driving in a pair of runs with his first home run of the season. Luke Persico (1-for-5, RBI) also drove in a run for UCLA in the defeat.
Sophomore Jake Bird (0-1) received the loss for the Bruins after allowing four runs. Reliever Cole Aker (1-1) got the win for the Tar Heels, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings.
North Carolina (2-1) got things going early offensively, putting up three runs in the first inning behind a home run from Tyler Ramirez. After two runners reached, the Tar Heels' center fielder took Molnar deep for his first home run of the season to put UNC up, 3-0.
UCLA (1-2) responded with a home run of its own in the bottom of the second to pull back within one. After Kort Peterson walked to begin the frame, Bouchard took an 0-1 fastball 415 feet over the center field fence, for his first home run of the season, making the score 3-2.
That one run deficit didn't last long though as the Tar Heels re-stretched their lead out to three again in the top of the third. Brian Miller singled and Tyler Lynn doubled to begin the inning for North Carolina. Then, Kyle Datres drove in one on an RBI-groundout and Lynn came home on a wild pitch to regain the three-run edge for the Tar Heels.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bruins had a great opportunity to cut into the Tar Heel lead, loading the bases with one out. However, Peterson grounded into an inning-ending double play and the Bruins remained behind by three entering the final four frames.
In the sixth, UCLA got the three runs it needed to tie the game at five. With two on and two outs, pinch-hitter Zander Clarke struck out, but reached second on a throwing error by the catcher which allowed one run to come home. Then, after a wild pitch brought the second run home, Persico laced a single through the left side to knot the game at five runs each.
However, things got out of hand for the Bruins after that, committing four errors and allowing nine runs over the final three frames. Eventually, the Bruins fell to the Tar Heels, 14-5, losing the series, 2-1.
UCLA will be back in action on Tuesday, February 23 when they take on the Long Beach State Dirtbags at 6:00pm PT at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting uclabruins.com/tickets or by calling 310-UCLA-WIN. Fans can also listen live on uclabruins.com.
Notes: Kyle Molnar made his first career collegiate start, becoming the first true freshman to start on opening weekend for UCLA since Adam Plutko in 2011 … dating back to last season, Kort Peterson has recorded a hit in eight-straight games … Nathan Hadley appeared in all three games, pitching three scoreless innings, with four strikeouts … Eric Filia led the Bruin offense this weekend, getting on base in all three games to post a .643 on-base percentage … Brian Gadsby, Scott Jarvis, Jon Olsen and Jake Pries all made their first collegiate appearances.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cole Aker (1-1)
L: Bird, Jake (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Brian Miller 1 ; Tyler Lynn 2 ; Kyle Datres 1 ; Tyler Ramirez 1
HR: Tyler Ramirez 1 ; Zack Gahagan 1
RBI: Brian Miller 1 ; Tyler Lynn 1 ; Kyle Datres 1 ; Tyler Ramirez 3 ; Logan Warmoth 1 ; Cody Roberts 1 ; Adam Pate 1 ; Zack Gahagan 2
SH: Kyle Datres 1 ; Tyler Ramirez 1 ; Logan Warmoth 1 ; Cody Roberts 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brian Miller 2 ; Tyler Lynn 3 ; Kyle Datres 2 ; Tyler Ramirez 2 ; Logan Warmoth 1 ; Eli Sutherland 1 ; Adam Pate 2 ; Zack Gahagan 1
SB: Tyler Ramirez 1
CS: Logan Warmoth 1
HBP: Tyler Lynn 1
Batting:
2B: Urabe, Brett 1
HR: Bouchard, Sean 1
RBI: Persico, Luke 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Peterson, Kort 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 1 ; Bono, Christoph 1 ; Urabe, Brett 1 ; Amaral, Daniel 1
HBP: Urabe, Brett 1 ; Rosica, Daniel 1
