University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
27-23-1, 12-16-1
Arizona State
31-22, 16-13
UCLA Throws Combined Three-Hitter in 2-1 Loss at ASU
May 20, 2023 | Baseball
TEMPE, Ariz. โ Freshman right-hander Michael Barnett and a quartet of relievers teamed up for a combined three-hitter in Saturday afternoon's regular-season finale at Arizona State, but a pair of solo homers from the Sun Devils proved decisive as the hosts took a 2-1 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
With the result, UCLA finishes the regular season with a 27-23-1 overall record and a 12-16-1 mark in Pac-12 action. The Bruins will serve as either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament, pending results from Saturday night's USC-Arizona matchup.
ASU meanwhile capped the season at 31-22, 16-13.
Solo shots from UCLA's JonJon Vaughns in the second and ASU's Ryan Campos in the fourth served as the game's entire run production through seven innings as the team's engaged in a pitcher's duel.
The Bruins would go on to limit the Sun Devils to just one hit through seven innings until sophomore outfielder Nick McLain hit a solo home run to left with two outs in the eighth.
That roundtripper stood up as the game-winner, as UCLA was retired in order in the ninth.
Each of the top-three batters in the UCLA lineup finished with a hit on Saturday, including a two-hit effort from junior second baseman Daylen Reyes that capped off a 6-13 weekend in Phoenix.
Barnett and fellow freshman right-hander Finn McIlroy were both standouts on the mound for UCLA.
Barnett drew the start and pitched the first three innings, allowing just one baserunner โ a two-out hit-by pitch in the third โ during his outing. The Lafayette, Calif. native struck out a pair, and needed just 36 pitches to complete his three frames.
McIlroy took over with two on and one away in the fifth inning and, after plunking the first batter he faced, proceeded to retire eight consecutive batters.
Freshman southpaw Chris Grothues made his collegiate debut in the eighth inning, retiring the first two batters he faced on just three pitches before allowing the solo homer to McLain.
UCLA begins play at the Pac-12 Tourney on Tuesday, May 23. Stay tuned to UCLABruins.com for opponent and start time.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stevenson, Owen (6-3)
L: Grothues, Chris (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Vaughns, JonJon 1
RBI: Vaughns, JonJon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vaughns, JonJon 1
HBP: Perry, Darius 1
Batting:
HR: Mclain, Nick 1 ; Campos, Ryan 1
RBI: Mclain, Nick 1 ; Campos, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mclain, Nick 1 ; Campos, Ryan 1
HBP: Balholm, Bronson 2
