UCLA
6-6
Texas
10-6
UCLA Falls in Series Opener at Texas
March 10, 2017 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas โ Kyle Cuellar hit a three-run home run and Nick Valaika collected two hits including a solo home run as the UCLA baseball team fell in its series opener at Texas, 5-4, on Friday night from UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas won the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ryan Reynolds hit a two-out single to center field and scored on a RBI-double off the bat of Travis Jones to tie the game. The Longhorns would then load the bases for Kody Clemens as he drew a walk for the game-winning run.
The Bruins took a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning as Cuellar launched a three-run home run to right-center field for the first long ball of his career. Brett Stephens led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error, followed by Daniel Rosica reaching base on an infield single.
Texas cut the UCLA lead to just one run in the bottom the seventh inning as Clemens drove home Patrick Mathis from third base with a groundball to the second baseman.
Brian Gadsby (2-4) suffered the loss, while UCLA starter Griffin Canning threw 7.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts for the no-decision.
Beau Ridgeway (1-0) earned the win for Texas tossing 2.0 innings in relief, while Kyle Johnston picked up his first save of the season. Nolan Kingham started for Texas and threw 6.0 innings allowing one run on five hits.
UCLA got on the board first as Valaika hit the first pitch of the second inning over the left-field fence for a solo home run for the 1-0 lead.
Texas tied the game in the bottom of the third inning as Patrick Mathis hit a solo home run to right field. The home run snapped Canning's scoreless inning streak to begin the season at 23.0. The Longhorns took a 2-1 in the sixth inning with a home run by Kacy Clemens.
UCLA ended the game with four run on eight hits with no errors, while Texas finished with five runs on eight hits and one error.
The Bruins will continue its three-game series with the Longhorns on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. PT from UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network.
Game Notes: Nick Valaika recorded his second home run of the season and his career โฆ Valaika's home run was the first run allowed by Texas starter Kingham this season in three starts โฆ Sean Bouchard extended his reached base streak to 14 games dating back to last season โฆ Kyle Cuellar recorded his first career double in the third inning to go along with his first career home run โฆ Griffin Canning threw at least 7.0 innings for the third time in four starts this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ridgeway, Beau (1-0)
L: Gadsby, Brian (2-4)
S: Johnston, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Cuellar, Kyle 1 ; Bouchard, Sean 1
HR: Cuellar, Kyle 1 ; Valaika, Nick 1
RBI: Cuellar, Kyle 3 ; Valaika, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cuellar, Kyle 1 ; Valaika, Nick 1 ; Stephens, Brett 1 ; Rosica, Daniel 1
Batting:
2B: Boswell, Bret 1 ; Jones, Travis 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 1
HR: Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 1
RBI: Clemens, Kody 2 ; Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Jones, Travis 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Rand, Tyler 1 ; Jones, Travis 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 2
CS: Shaw, Tate 1
