UCLA
5-2
Vanderbilt
5-3
Bruins Edged, 2-1, in Vanderbilt Rubber Match
February 26, 2023 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 13-ranked UCLA baseball team was edged by No. 5 Vanderbilt, 2-1, in Sunday's rubber match at Hawkins Field.
A two-run homer from Vandy (5-3) shortstop Davis Diaz in the second inning proved the difference in the game. The Bruins (5-2) rallied for a single run in the sixth, but Vandy right-hander Nick Maldonado tossed three shutout innings with eight strikeouts to close out the game and make the one-run lead hold up.
Junior third baseman Kyle Karros and senior catcher Darius Perry teamed up to score the Bruins' lone run. Karros started the rally with a one-out double, shooting an off-speed pitch down the first base line and into the corner to get into scoring position. After a walk put another runner aboard, Perry hit a soft liner into right field to plate Karros from second.
UCLA senior righty Kelly Austin was excellent outside the two-run shot, giving up just three hits overall while walking none and striking out five. He matched a career high by completing six innings.
Austin started off the game with a 1-2-3 first, bounced back for two quick outs after the homer in the second, and shut down the Commodores after a one-out single in the third, retiring 10 consecutive batters to finish his outing.
Senior right-hander Charles Harrison was solid as well out of the pen, allowing just a walk over 1 1/3 shutout innings. He struck out a pair.
Collectively, UCLA allowed just four hits on Sunday.
Karros went 2-4 to lead the Bruins on offense. Perry, Cody Schrier, Daylen Reyes also collected hits.
UCLA returns to Jackie Robinson Stadium for its next six games, starting with midweek contests against Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and Michigan on Wednesday, Mar. 1. Both games are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT starts.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Devin Futrell (2-0)
L: Austin, Kelly (1-1)
S: Nick Maldonado (2)
Batting:
2B: Karros, Kyle 1
RBI: Perry, Darius 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Karros, Kyle 1
CS: Reyes, Daylen 1
PO: Reyes, Daylen 1
Batting:
2B: Jonathan Vastine 1
HR: Davis Diaz 1
RBI: Davis Diaz 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jonathan Vastine 1 ; Davis Diaz 1
SB: Enrique Bradfield Jr 1
CS: Enrique Bradfield Jr 1
PO: Enrique Bradfield Jr 1
