Bruins Drop Utah Opener in Extras, 3-2
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The UCLA baseball team lost a heart-breaker in 13 innings on Friday night to Utah, 3-2, to open the series in Salt Lake City. Pitcher Luke Jewett was dominant on the mound throughout his start for the Bruins in the loss, finishing with seven strikeouts over a career-high seven innings pitched.
UCLA (13-26) entered the bottom of the eighth up 2-1, before the Utes (27-13) tied the game, eventually forcing extra innings.
Neither squad could scratch across a run in the 10th or 11th innings, but the Utes had action on the bases in the 12th. With one out in the frame and the score tied at 2-2, Utah's Hunter Antillion doubled to left-center field before advancing to third on the next play via a sac-bunt by Bruer Webster. Two batters later, after Core Jackson was hit by a pitch, Kai Roberts brought Antillion home to walk it off with a single to center, earning the Utes the 3-2 series-opening win.
On an evening where runs were hard to come by, Utah opened the scoring in the bottom of the first before the Bruins responded with two runs in the third inning. AJ Salgado tripled to left field, scoring Cashel Dugger to tie the game at 1-1, before Roman Martin brought Salgado home two batters later with a single to left-center, giving UCLA a 2-1 lead.
Both starting pitchers shut down the offenses over the next four innings. Jewett, in particular, was dealing, and gave up just three hits while recording all seven of his strikeouts in his final six innings of work. Jewett finished his night in emphatic fashion as well, striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Utah tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a passed ball, and neither squad was able to scratch across a run, forcing extra innings.
In the bottom of the tenth, Utah threatened, but Rashad Ruff was able to get out of the jam and send the game to the 11th inning. Utah earned the walk-off win in the 12th inning.
The Bruins return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. PT with Michael Barnett (3-2, 4.91 ERA) on the mound, while Merit Jones (2-2, 4.89 ERA) will start for Utah. Fans can catch the action on the Pac-12 Networks.