UCLA
23-10, 12-4
USC
18-16, 6-10
No. 15 UCLA Wins Series Opener over USC, 16-1
April 20, 2018 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – Kevin Kendall hit a three-run home run and scored three times, while Jake Bird allowed just one run in seven innings on the mound as the No. 15 UCLA baseball team defeated USC, 16-1, on Friday night in the series opener of a three-game set against USC at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Bird (5-2) earned his fourth win in league play allowing just one run in 7.0 innings of work scattering eight hits and recording one strikeout.
The Bruins were also led offensively by Michael Toglia driving in three runs including hitting a home run and Daniel Amaral finished the game going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Chase Strumpf also registered two RBIs on two base hits.
UCLA jumped out to an early lead after a five-run first inning. Strumpf started the scoring with a two-run double to the gap in left-center field to plate Jeremy Ydens and Kendall who led off the frame with consecutive base hits. Jack Stronach and Garrett Mitchell would each drive in runs with RBI-singles, followed by Ryan Kreidler lifting a fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly for the 5-0 lead.
The Bruins tacked on two more runs in the second inning when Toglia drove in Kendall with a line drive to right field and later scored as Amaral singled to right-center field.
USC got a run back in the top of the fifth inning but UCLA responded with four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Daniel Rosica plated the first run of the inning when he ripped a single to left field to bring Amaral home. Two batters later Kendall smashed a three-run home run down the right-field line with two outs to give the Bruins a 10-run advantage.
Kevin Kendall sent and absolute laser just left of the foul pole ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 21, 2018
The 3??-run bomb gives @UCLABaseball a 11-1 lead!
Watch: https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa pic.twitter.com/kBjpvgCLJx
The Bruins scored five more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning highlighted by Toglia's two-run home run to center field and Kendall driving in pinch-hitter Jake Hirabayashi with a single to center field.
Kyle Hurt (2-4) suffered the loss for the Trojans allowing seven runs on eight hits with three walks in 4.0 innings of work.
UCLA (23-10, 12-4) scored 16 runs on 14 hits with two errors, while USC (18-16, 6-10) finished the game with one run on eight hits with one error.
The second game of this Pac-12 series will take place on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT from Jackie Robinson Stadium. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Game Notes: This marks the largest margin of victory against the Trojans since March 23, 2009 when they defeated USC 17-2 … The Bruins have scored double-digit runs in three of their last four Pac-12 games … Eight of the nine UCLA starters drove in at least one run … Kevin Kendall hit his second home run of the season and set a career-high with four RBIs … Kendall tied a career mark with three runs scored … Michael Toglia hit his seventh home run of the year … Toglia has driven in three or more runs five times this season … Jake Bird has thrown seven or more innings in his last five starts … Daniel Amaral tied a season-high with three hits and set a career-best with two doubles … Chase Strumpf holds the team lead with his 10th multi-RBI game of the year … Nick Scheidler struck out the side in the eighth inning, while Kyle Mora threw a scoreless ninth inning.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bird, Jake (5-2)
L: Hurt, Kyle (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Thomas, John 1
RBI: Thomas, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perez, Brandon 1
CS: Nootbaar, Lars 1
HBP: Paulson, Dillon 1
Batting:
2B: Strumpf, Chase 1 ; Amaral, Daniel 2
HR: Kendall, Kevin 1 ; Toglia, Michael 1
RBI: Ydens, Jeremy 1 ; Kendall, Kevin 4 ; Strumpf, Chase 2 ; Toglia, Michael 3 ; Stronach, Jack 1 ; Amaral, Daniel 1 ; Mitchell, Garrett 1 ; Kreidler, Ryan 1 ; Rosica, Daniel 1 ; Cuellar, Kyle 1
SF: Kreidler, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ydens, Jeremy 1 ; Kendall, Kevin 3 ; Strumpf, Chase 2 ; Toglia, Michael 2 ; Stronach, Jack 1 ; Pries, Jake 1 ; Amaral, Daniel 3 ; Kreidler, Ryan 1 ; Hirabayashi, Jake 1 ; Rosica, Daniel 1
SB: Kendall, Kevin 1
HBP: Cuellar, Kyle 1
