University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Washington State
UCLA Drops Series Opener at Washington State
May 12, 2017 | Baseball
PULLMAN, Wash. โ Zander Clarke hit a solo home run, while Brett Stephens and Chase Strumpf each went 2-for-4 as the UCLA baseball team dropped the series opener at Washington State, 7-1, on Friday from Bailey-Brayton Field.
Washington State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after putting up two runs on RBI-singles in the second inning followed by Justin Harrer hitting a two-run home run to center field in the third inning.
UCLA scored its first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Clarke hit a solo home run to left-center field to cut the deficit to 4-1.
The Cougars extended their lead to 7-1 in the eighth inning as Cal Waterman hit a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole and Shane Matheny hit a RBI-double.
Griffin Canning (5-3) suffered the loss allowing four runs on 10 hits in 7.0 innings of work with six strikeouts. WSU starter Damon Jones (3-3) earned the win tossing 5.1 innings allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
UCLA (24-22, 13-9) ended the game with one run on six hits and one error, while Washington State (23-22, 9-13) finished with seven runs on 13 hits and one error.
The Bruins and Cougars will play game two of this three-game Pac-12 series on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. (PT) from Bailey-Brayton Field. The game will be televised live on the Pac-12 Network.
Game Notes: Griffin Canning moved into a tie for sixth place on UCLA's career strikeout list at 275 with James Kaprielian (2013-15) and passed Adam Plutko (2011-13) โฆ Canning has thrown 7.0 or more innings in five straight starts โฆ Canning suffers his first loss since April 7 vs. Washington โฆ Zander Clarke hit his second home run of the season โฆ Brett Stephens is now tied for the team-lead with 13 multi-hit games, while Chase Strumpf collected his ninth of the year.
