No. 20 UCLA Baseball Edged at Stanford, 5-4, in Series Finale
April 23, 2011
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STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 20 UCLA baseball team lost the series finale at Stanford, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon before 2,280 at Sunken Diamond. Stanford scored four two-out runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to erase a 4-1 deficit and secure a Pac-10 series victory.
The host Cardinal (19-13, 5-7) were down to their final out in the ninth, before using a single up the middle and walk to put runners on the corners. An ensuing single up the middle by Jake Stewart scored Brian Guymon, who finished 3-for-4 with one run. Trailing 4-2, Zach Jones lined a game-tying double down the right field line to score two runs. Stanford drew consecutive walks before Kenny Diekroeger lifted a lazy fly ball to shallow right field that fell for a base-hit.
UCLA (21-14, 10-5) claimed a 4-1 lead with one run in each of the fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. Cody Keefer (2-for-4, one run) and Pat Valaika (2-for-3, one home run) were the only Bruins to record multiple hits.
Right-handed starter Adam Plutko allowed one run (unearned) and four hits in 6.1 innings but did not record a decision. Plutko struck out four batters and issued two walks in his ninth start of the spring. Right-hander Nick Vander Tuig (3-3) absorbed the loss, allowing four runs and three hits in one inning of relief.
Cardinal left-hander Chris Reed (2-1) earned the victory in relief, allowing one run and two hits in one inning.
Stanford was led by Guymon's 3-for-4 effort at the plate and received two hits each from Diekroeger and Jake Stewart.
UCLA scored one run in the top of the fourth after Dean Espy opened the frame with a double down the left-field line. A groundout by Cody Regis pushed Espy to third, before Chris Giovinazzo's grounder to shortstop allowed Espy to score.
The Bruins doubled their margin with one run in the sixth. Jeff Gelalich led off with a triple down the right field line. Beau Amaral followed with a double to the right field corner, scoring Gelalich.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Valaika unloaded with his first career home run, a solo shot to left field that extended UCLA's advantage to 3-0.
Stanford got on the board with one run in the bottom of the seventh. With runners at second and third base and one out, a passed ball allowed Lonnie Kauppila to score. UCLA added one run in the top of the ninth to assume a 4-1 cushion.
UCLA returns to action against UC Irvine at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, April 26. Game time is 6 p.m. Admission to all Tuesday evening games at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium costs $2 for adults and children.
Game Notes: Beau Amaral extended his season-long hitting streak to 12 games ... Cody Regis' 15-game hitting streak was snapped, yet the Bruins' third baseman reached base with a walk ... left-hander Mitchell Beacom pitched 1.1 hitless innings, notching one strikeout and issuing one walk ... Saturday's loss marked the Bruins' first Pac-10 series loss of the season, ending a streak of four consecutive weekend series wins in conference play.