UCLA
11-3
USC vs. UCLA
5-9
UCLA Defeats USC 7-5 at Dodger Stadium
March 10, 2019 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – No. 2 UCLA received 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball from its bullpen, and freshman center fielder Matt McLain had a critical two-run double in the eighth as the Bruins defeated USC 7-5 in the final game of the 2019 Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic.
The non-conference win pushed UCLA to 11-3 on the year, while the Trojans slipped to 5-9.
Similar to Saturday's 6-3 triumph over Oklahoma State, UCLA had to come from behind on Sunday as USC built a 4-0 lead through the middle of the third inning.
From there, however, UCLA would go on to outscore its rival 7-1. The Bruins cut their deficit to one with a three-run third, then went ahead for good with two runs in the seventh.
Sophomore right fielder Garrett Mitchell, batting leadoff for the first time this season, keyed the Bruins' offense by going 2-3 with a pair of walks and runs scored. Chase Strumpf (1-4, RBI) and Ryan Kreidler (1-4, RBI, extended his hitting streak to 14 games) also had solid days with the bat.
Mitchell ignited UCLA's three-run third with his legs, beating out a bunt single to lead off the inning and then moving into scoring position by tagging up on a deep flyout from McLain. Strumpf followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Mitchell. Later in the inning, Kreidler lined a base hit to right field but USC right fielder Preston Hartsell misjudged the ball and then slipped while trying to correct his route, leading to a pair of Bruin runs as Kreidler reached third.
UCLA's bullpen kept USC off the board in the middle innings, which allowed the Bruins to take their first lead of the day just after the seventh inning stretch. The Bruins loaded the bags with just out in that frame (two walks and a Mitchell base hit), which allowed them to take advantages of a pair of USC miscues. A passed ball with Strumpf at the plate allowed Jarron Silva to cross home and knot the score, and then the Bruins grabbed the lead minutes later when the USC pitcher bounced a throw over to first trying to retire Michael Toglia.
McLain gave the Bruins crucial insurance runs in the eighth, as he went opposite field with a line drive inside the right field line for a two-run double that made it 7-4. The first of his two RBIs on the play held up as the game-winner as USC scratched across a run in the top of the ninth to put a minor blemish on what was an otherwise-spotless performance by the Bruin bullpen.
Sophomore righty Michael Townsend started the fine day for the pen with perhaps the best outing of his career, facing the minimum over his 2 2/3 innings, picking up four strikeouts and allowing just one hit.
Righties Jack Filby, Nate Hadley, and Kyle Mora each followed with scoreless innings. Sophomore closer Holden Powell bent but didn't break in the ninth, allowing a single run but holding the Trojans to just that en route to his fourth save of the season and second in as many days.
"Our bullpen calmed the game down for us, and that was good," said UCLA head coach John Savage. "You gotta give them a lot of credit, gave up one run through six. We put some good at-bats together – Matt's big double in the eighth – and it was good job of bouncing back this weekend after losing on Friday."
After three standout starts to open his collegiate career, freshman right-hander Jesse Bergin allowed four earned through 2 1/3 frames. His defense picked him up in the early innings, particularly junior catcher Will McInerny who gunned down three would-be basestealers over the first three innings of the contest.
McInerny was just one of many Bruins who had standout days with the glove. Mitchell made a running grab on a fly ball at the wall in right-center field in the sixth, and Toglia and Mora teamed up for an eye-catching 3-1 putout in the eighth.
USC was led by Blake Sabol, Matthew Acosta, and Ben Ramirez, who each had two hits. Sabol led off the game with a first-pitch home run to right-center.
The Bruins are next in action on Tuesday night, heading to Big West-member Long Beach State for a Tuesday night matchup. UCLA hosts conference rival and defending national champion Oregon State for a three-game set starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Here are highlight's from tonight's 7-5 win over USC in the finale of the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic. #GoBruins | #BeatSC pic.twitter.com/6nMkVF6O90
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) March 11, 2019
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hadley, Nathan (3-0)
L: Clarke, Chris (2-1)
S: Powell, Holden (4)
Batting:
2B: Bushor, Chase 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1
HR: Sabol, Blake 1
RBI: Sabol, Blake 2 ; Acosta, Matthew 1 ; Ramirez, Ben 2
SH: Lozano, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sabol, Blake 1 ; Bushor, Chase 1 ; Stubbs, CJ 1 ; Hartsell, Preston 1 ; Lozano, Tyler 1
CS: Acosta, Matthew 2 ; Ramirez, Ben 1
HBP: Stubbs, CJ 1
Batting:
2B: McLain, Matt 1
RBI: McLain, Matt 2 ; Strumpf, Chase 1 ; Kreidler, Ryan 1
SH: Kendall, Kevin 1 ; McInerny, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mitchell, Garrett 2 ; Strumpf, Chase 1 ; Toglia, Michael 1 ; Prendiz, Jordan 1 ; Kendall, Kevin 1 ; Silva, Jarron 1
CS: Cuellar, Kyle 1
HBP: McLain, Matt 1 ; Cardenas, Noah 1
PO: Kendall, Kevin 1
