UCLA
4-3
CSUN
4-4
UCLA Drops Road Game at CSUN, 6-5
February 28, 2017 | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. โ Sean Bouchard went 3-for-3 with a home run and a double, while Nick Valaika collected two doubles as the UCLA baseball team dropped a midweek game at CSUN, 6-5, on Tuesday from Matador Field.
With the Bruins leading 3-2 in the sixth inning, CSUN scored four runs to take a 6-3 advantage. Fred Smith led off the inning with a solo home run, followed later in the inning by Nolan Bumstead hitting a two-out single to plate two runs and Alvaro Rubalcaba hit a RBI-single.
UCLA cut the lead to 6-5 in the top half of the seventh inning when Bouchard blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence. However, the Matadors would not allow another UCLA batter to reach base and hold on for the win.
The Bruins jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second inning as Ryan Kreidler drove home Valaika and Chase Strumpf with a single up the middle. CSUN responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run off the bat of Albee Weiss to cut the UCLA lead to 2-1.
UCLA added one run in the fifth inning as Will McInerny led off the inning with a hit by pitch and later scored as Brett Stephens hit a sacrifice fly into foul territory in left field to push the lead to 3-1.
UCLA starter Justin Hooper threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts to earn the no-decision.
CSUN's Blake Schriever earned the win tossing 1.1 innings in relief allowing one run with two strikeouts. Conner O'Neil recorded his first save of the year throwingย 1.1 shutout innings.
The Matadors ended the game with six runs on eight hits with no errors, while UCLA finished with five runs on seven hits with two errors.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Wednesday against the NC Dinos in an exhibition affair starting at 4 p.m. (PT). UCLA will then be a part of the annual Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic as it will host Michigan on Friday at 6 p.m. (PT) and San Diego on Saturday at 2 p.m. (PT) before facing crosstown rival USC at Dodger Stadium on Sunday at 3 p.m. (PT).
Game Notes: Sean Bouchard extended his hitting streak to nine games dating back to last season โฆ Bouchard collected his team-best third home run of the season โฆ Brett Stephens and Nick Valaika recorded their first stolen bases of the yearย โฆ Valaika now leads the team with four doubles โฆ Ryan Kreidler and Bouchardย both tallied their second multi-RBI game of the season โฆ Scott Burke threw 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to end the game for the Bruins ... Will McInerny made his first career start.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schriever, Blake (1-0)
L: Ceja, Moises (0-1)
S: O'Neil, Conner (1)
Batting:
2B: Bouchard, Sean 1 ; Valaika, Nick 2
HR: Bouchard, Sean 1
RBI: Stephens, Brett 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 2 ; Kreidler, Ryan 2
SH: Amaral, Daniel 1 ; Strumpf, Chase 1
SF: Stephens, Brett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stephens, Brett 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 1 ; Valaika, Nick 1 ; Strumpf, Chase 1 ; McInerny, Will 1
SB: Stephens, Brett 1 ; Valaika, Nick 1 ; Strumpf, Chase 1
CS: Strumpf, Chase 1
HBP: McInerny, Will 1
Batting:
HR: Smith, Fred 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1
RBI: Smith, Fred 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 2 ; Rubalcaba, Alvaro 1 ; Orona, Elias 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Fred 1 ; Conlan, Riley 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1 ; Colantono, William 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 2
SB: Colantono, William 1
HBP: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1
PO: Hull, Alex 1
