UCLA
1-0
San Jose State
0-1
UCLA Walks Off for Opening Day Win
February 18, 2017 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โ Ryan Kreidlerย drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth, while Griffin Canning threw 6.0 shutout innings as the UCLA baseball team earned a 3-2 walk-off win on Saturday over San Jose State from Jackie Robinson Stadium in the season opener.
With the score tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Sean Bouchard earned a lead-off walk, followed by Michael Toglia hitting a single that was misplayed by the right fielder to put runners on second and third. After Nick Valaika was intentionally walked, Kreidler came up with one out and hit a 2-2 pitch up the middle passed the pitcher to plate the game-winning run.
Brian Gadsby (1-0) earned the win throwing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. He came in the eighth inning and got out of a jam with two runners on and started a 1-6-3 double play in the ninth inning to keep the game tied. Canning started the game and earned a no-decision totaling eight strikeouts and allowing just two hits in six innings of work.
The Bruins improve to 8-5 on Opening Day under head coach John Savage and 18-7 at home since the opening of Jackie Robinson Stadium in 1981.
UCLA got on the board first in the second inning as Valaika ripped a one-out double to left-center field and was brought home one batter later by Kreidler on an infield single. Kreidler finished the night with two hits and two RBIs in his collegiate debut.
The Bruins tacked on another run in the fifth inning as they had runners on first and third with two outs. Daniel Amaral attempted to steal second base, but was caught in a run down allowing Kreidler to score from third base before Amaral was tagged for the final out of the inning.
San Jose State cut the lead to 2-1 in the seventh inning as David Campbell drove home Chris Williams with a ground ball to second base. The Spartans looked to extend their as they loaded the bases with two outs, but Moises Ceja was able to get Shane Timmons to fly out to center field for the final out. The Spartans would tie the game in the eighth inning as Joseph Stefanki scored on a wild pitch.
Josh Nashed started the game for the Spartans throwing 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Jaiden France (0-1) suffered the loss throwing 1.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing one run on two hits with two walks
UCLA finished the game with three runs on eight hits with no errors, SJSU scored two runs on six hits with one error.
UCLA will continue its three-game series with San Jose State on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gadsby, Brian (1-0)
L: FRANCE, Jaiden (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: CAMPBELL, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: STEFANKI, Joseph 1 ; WILLIAMS, Chris 1
CS: TIDWELL, Hunter 1
Batting:
2B: Valaika, Nick 1
RBI: Kreidler, Ryan 2
SH: Stephens, Brett 1 ; Rosica, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Toglia, Michael 1 ; Valaika, Nick 1 ; Kreidler, Ryan 1
SB: Silva, Jarron 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 1
CS: Amaral, Daniel 1
HBP: Pries, Jake 1
