No. 24 UCLA Baseball Falls at Washington State, 3-2
April 10, 2011
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PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 24 UCLA baseball team dropped a 3-2 decision at Washington State in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field. Washington State (13-14, 2-7 Pac-10) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against UCLA (16-11, 7-2 Pac-10).
Right-hander Adam Plutko did not allow any runs and surrendered one bunt single through the first eight innings before allowing one run and one base-hit in the ninth. He finished with seven strikeouts and one walk, scattering two hits through a season-high eight frames.
Washington State scored three runs off five hits in the bottom of the ninth to salvage the Pac-10 series, after UCLA won on Friday night (3-1) and Saturday afternoon (10-3).
Left-hander Paris Shewey (1-0) earned the victory for the host Cougars, striking out three batters and allowing two hits in two scoreless innings of relief. Bruins' left-hander Mitchell Beacom (0-2) absorbed the loss, surrendering one run and two hits in 0.1 innings of relief.
Jeff Gelalich and Pat Valaika each recorded two hits for UCLA. Cody Bartlett went 2-for-4, and Taylor Ard went 1-for-4 with two RBI for Washington State.
The Cougars began their ninth inning rally with a leadoff single up the middle by Collin Slaybaugh. Barlett followed with a sharp single that ricocheted off the glove of pitcher Nick Vander Tuig. A sacrifice bunt by Brett Jacobs moved both runners up 90 feet. Ard followed with a two-run single to center. After Ard was thrown out attempting to advance on a pitch that got away from Steve Rodriguez, Derek Jones tripled to center field. Beacom walked Matt Argyropoulos intentionally before Jason Monda sent a fly ball over the head of Cody Keefer in left field for a game-winning single.
UCLA got on the board with one pair of two-out runs in the top of the fifth inning to lead, 2-0. Valaika led off with a double to left field. After moving to third base on a groundout by Beau Amaral, Valaika scored as Espy drilled a two-out double to left field on a full count. Regis followed with a line-drive, run-scoring single to right field on a 2-and-2 count.
The Bruins return to action against Long Beach State on Tuesday, April 12, for the first of five consecutive home games at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Game time against the 49ers is 6 p.m. Admission to all Tuesday night home games at the Bruins' home ballpark costs $2.
Game Notes: Sunday's loss snapped UCLA's five-game win streak in Pac-10 play, and marked just the team's fourth loss in its last 18 Pac-10 road games ... Adam Plutko required just 91 pitches through the first eight innings before allowing a leadoff single in the ninth inning ... Cody Regis extended his hitting streak to a season-long and team-best eight games.