Bruin Bats Propel #3 UCLA to 9-3 Win and Series Victory over Stanford

STANFORD, CALIF. – The No. 3 UCLA Bruins' offense carried the team to a series victory over Stanford with a 9-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Sunken Diamond. The Bruins win the series, 2-1, and remain undefeated in weekend series this season, going 10-0 so far.

Totaling double-digit hits for the 20th time, the Bruins were led by Darrell Miller Jr. (3-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB) and Ty Moore (4-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, SB). Also finishing with multi-hit afternoons were Trent Chatterton (2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB) and Kort Peterson (2-for-5, 3B, 3 R, 2 SB).

Freshman Griffin Canning (7-1) lasted five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits to earn the victory for UCLA. Chris Castellanos (2-1) got the loss for Stanford after allowing four runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings. David Berg (9) earned the save, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.

Bruin right fielder Peterson featured prominently early on in the decisive game three. In the bottom of the first inning with runners on first and second, and two away, Stanford's Beau Branton singled to right field to seemingly put the Cardinal on top. However, Peterson fielded the single and threw on one hop to catcher Miller Jr. who finished off the tag to catch Jesse Kuet at home plate, ending the inning.

One inning later, Peterson got things going for UCLA (31-9, 16-5) with a one-out triple to right-center field. Following the Peterson triple, Trent Chatterton singled to shallow right field to push across the first run for the Bruins.

Stanford (18-23, 5-13) did not wait long to respond, getting two runs of their own in the bottom half of the second. After Jack Klein was hit with a pitch, Jonny Locher worked an eight-pitch at-bat that resulted in the junior's second home run of the season to put the Cardinal on top, 2-1.

The Stanford edge did not last long, however, as UCLA tagged the Cardinal for four runs in the top of the third inning to regain the lead. The Bruins combined to record five hits and a walk, bringing eight batters to the plate, in the frame. Luke Persico led the inning off with a single and was followed with back-to-back doubles from Moore and Miller Jr. to produce the first two runs. One out later, Miller Jr. came home on a Sean Bouchard single to left field for the third run. Then, continuing to make an impact, Peterson produced the fourth tally after singling, stealing second and third and coming home on a wild pitch to make it 5-2 UCLA.

It was Moore and Miller Jr. producing again in the sixth inning to get the Bruins to a 7-2 advantage. After walks put Christoph Bono and Persico on base, Moore and Miller Jr. strung together back-to-back RBI-singles to give UCLA a five-run lead after six.

Stanford got one back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-single by Kuet, but the Bruins went on to add another pair in the top of the ninth. Christoph Bono and Kevin Kramer delivered consecutive sacrifice-flies to cap off a successful weekend with a 9-3 victory.

UCLA will next travel to Long Beach State on Tuesday, April 28 to battle the 49ers at 6:00pm PT. Fans can listen to the action live at uclabruins.com.

Notes: The Bruins are now 24-0 when leading after six innings, 25-0 after seven innings and 28-0 after eight innings. In conference play, David Berg has yet to allow a run, recording 25 strikeouts in 24.2 scoreless innings. Berg is now one appearances away from tying the NCAA record for most career appearances. Darrell Miller Jr. (6-for-12, 3 2B, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 BB) and Trent Chatterton (5-for-10, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB) each hit .500 for the series. Nine out of UCLA's 28 hits went for extra bases in this weekend's series.