Cholowsky Slam Not Enough as Bruins Fall to OSU, 12-11

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Roch Cholowsky hit a grand slam to highlight a five-run third and four Bruins finished with multiple hits, but UCLA ultimately fell to No. 7 Oregon State in walk-off fashion, 12-11, on Saturday evening at Goss Stadium.

The Bruins (16-32, 6-20 Pac-12) and Beavers (38-12, 16-9) went back and forth night, with the teams tying on five separate occasions.

The Beavers ultimately won the game on a bases-loaded walk to Dallas Macias in the bottom of the ninth, as he and UCLA closer Rashad Ruff battled for nine pitches before Ruff missed with his final attempt to force in the decisive run.

Cholowsky led the Bruins offensively, going 3-6 with four RBIs. Freshman DH Roman Martin added four hits and scored two runs, and Duce Gourson added a three-hit, two-RBI performance out of the three-hole.

UCLA opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, as Gourson ripped a double into the right-center gap to plate Martin from first base.

The Bruins pushed ahead with a big third inning, as Cholowsky cleared the wall in left-center field for his first-career grand slam before the Bruins rallied for another run to make it a five-spot and a 6-1 lead.

That would be the last time the Bruins would lead however, as OSU responded with a go-ahead seven-spot in the bottom of the third.

UCLA would go on to tie the game on three further occasions, but could never jump back ahead.

AJ Salgado and Gourson were responsible for the first two game-tying hits, plating a combined three runs with RBI singles.

Junior shortstop Cody Schrier wore a 2-1 pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning to force in the game-tying run at 11-11.

Freshman righty Justin Lee was the Bruins' top pitcher on Saturday, delivering two innings of scoreless relief. After getting himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, he proceeded to retire the side in order in the seventh.

Oregon State hit five home runs as a team, and saw eight of nine starters collect at least one hit. Gavin Turley (2-4, three RBIs) and Brady Kasper (2-4, four RBIs) did the most damage individually.

UCLA and OSU will conclude the series on Sunday starting at 12:00 p.m. PT.