No. 1 Bruins Out-Slug Arizona 12-10

LOS ANGELES – No. 1 UCLA produced a season-high in runs and nine separate batters recorded an RBI as the Bruins logged a 12-10 win over Arizona on Saturday afternoon in a see-saw affair at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The contest, which ran a season-long four hours and four minutes, featured six lead changes and six ties before UCLA (16-4, 4-1 Pac-12) emerged victorious.

The two teams swapped leads in each of the first five innings – Arizona (13-9, 2-3) posted a run in the first, then had go-ahead rallies of six runs in the third and three runs in the fifth, while UCLA punched back with four-spots in both the second and fourth frames.

Junior second baseman Chase Strumpf lined a solo homer to left to tie the game at 10-10 in the bottom of the sixth, which marked the last time that Arizona would lead all day.

The Bruins plated two runs as part of a decisive eighth-inning rally, taking advantage of back-to-back walks to lead off the frame. Junior third baseman Ryan Kreidler moved both those runners into scoring position with a picture-perfect sac bunt, a move which paid off as the game-winning run came in moments later on a wild pitch. Junior first baseman Michael Toglia capped the game'e scoring with with an RBI double into the right-center field gap.

Sophomore closer Holden Powell made quick work of the Wildcats after inhering the two-run lead, inducing swinging strikeouts from the first two batters he faced before getting Ryan Holgate to hit a routine fly ball to center to end the game.

Several Bruins had standout days with the bats as the team matched a season-high with 14 hits and produced a new season-high with 12 runs.

Junior left fielder Jack Stronach went 3-4 to lead the team in hits. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Kendall was 2-4 with three runs scored, giving him five hits in seven at-bats and seven runs scored in the series.

Toglia was the lone Bruin to record multiple hits and multiple RBIs (two apiece). Sophomore right fielder Garrett Mitchell had two extra-base hits, scored twice, and reached three times out of the leadoff spot, and Strumpf homered and scored the game-winning run after walking to lead off the eighth.

UCLA's bullpen kept Arizona off the board over the final 4 2/3 innings of the game. Junior righty Kyle Mora earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, and freshman right-hander Jesse Bergin was fantastic in his relief debut, striking out three and allowing no hits over 2 1/3 frames. Powell was rewarded with his league-high seventh save after his 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Bruins received a pair of triples – from Matt McLain and Mitchell – as part of their four-run second inning. Toglia and Kendall contributed base hits during that outburst, which was capped off by a Jarron Silva sac fly.

UCLA's second four-spot, in the fourth inning, featured four singles. Senior Jake Pries had the big hit of that frame, ripping a liner into the 5-6 hole that deflected off the glove of the Arizona shortstop and into left field to bring in a pair of runs.

At 22, Saturday's game represented the most combined runs in a UCLA game this year. After combining for no more than 12 runs in the first 17 games of the year, the Bruins and their opponent have combined for 15 or more in three straight games.

The Wildcats were led by third baseman Nick Quintana, who was 2-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Second baseman Cameron Cannon had a three-run home run during Arizona's big third inning.

Arizona reliever Bryce Collins was tagged with the loss after being charged with the two walks that led off the bottom of the eighth. The Wildcats used six different pitchers, including four over the final 1 1/3 innings of the game.

UCLA goes for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Ryan Garcia (1-0, 2.35 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Bruins.