No. 24 UCLA Baseball Falls to No. 3 Oregon State, 7-5
April 29, 2011
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LOS ANGELES - The No. 24 UCLA baseball team dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 3 Oregon State in a Pac-10 contest at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday night. The visiting Beavers (31-8, 11-2) scored six runs in the top of the fifth to secure a 7-5 lead and held on for the victory in the series-opening contest.
After scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth to claim a 5-1 lead, UCLA (22-15, 10-6) surrendered six runs in the top half of the fifth and never answered.
Oregon State right-hander Sam Gaviglio (8-1) earned the victory, allowing five runs (four earned) and six hits through six innings. Gaviglio walked seven batters and did not issue any walks.
UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole (4-5) absorbed the loss, allowing a career-high seven runs and 10 hits through 4.1 innings. Cole struck out five batters and issued three walks. Left-hander Mitchell Beacom held Oregon State scoreless in relief, allowing one hit and striking out four batters in a career-high 4.2 innings.
The Bruins were led at the plate by Dean Espy, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Beau Amaral extended his hitting streak to a season-long 14 games, going 3-for-4 with two runs. Cody Regis had the only other RBI for UCLA, drawing two walks and going 0-for-3 at the plate.
Oregon State's Carter Bell went 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run, and Ryan Dunn went 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI as the only other Beaver to log at least two hits.
UCLA led 1-0 after one inning, before Oregon State tied the contest, 1-1, in the top of the third. The Bruins answered with one run in the bottom of the third, as Espy had a run-scoring groundout to send home Jeff Gelalich.
The Bruins' three-run fourth inning featured one RBI-single by Espy, who bounced a hard groundball off Gaviglio's leg, and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Regis. Amaral scored UCLA's third run of the inning on an errant throw by Oregon State shortstop Ryan Dunn.
The Beavers plated six runs in the fifth inning, opening the frame with consecutive doubles by Danny Hayes and Kavin Keyes. After a walk drawn by Jared Norris loaded the bases, Bell launched a bases-clearing triple to center field, pulling Oregon State within one run of UCLA. A foul sacrifice fly out by Parker Berberet plated Bell to tie the game. Dunn and Tyler Smith both followed with singles and a hit-by-pitch to Garrett Nash loaded the bases. Ryan Barnes' sacrifice fly sent home Dunn and a balked called against Beacom scored Smith.
UCLA resumes its series against Oregon State on Saturday afternoon. Game time at Jackie Robinson Stadium is 2 p.m. Fans can listen to a live audio broadcast of each game online, free of charge, at uclabruins.com.
Game Notes: Beau Amaral extended his hitting streak to a season-long 14 games - Amaral hit safely in 15 consecutive games as a freshman in 2010 ... the six runs scored by Oregon State in the top of the fifth were the most by any team in one inning against UCLA this season ... Dean Espy logged his team-leading sixth multiple-RBI game of the season (third game with more than two RBI) ... Espy has registered 13 multiple-hit games this year, tied for the most on the team with Cody Keefer ... Gerrit Cole moved into 12th place on the all-time Pac-10 strikeouts list (338) ... Cole made his 44th career start, tied for fifth on UCLA's all-time list (tied with Josh Karp and Bill Brasher).