UCLA Falls to Stanford, 6-2

STANFORD, Calif. – Despite a season-high eight strikeouts from senior right-hander Zach Pettway, the No. 17-ranked UCLA baseball team suffered a 6-2 loss to Stanford in Friday afternoon's series opener at Sunken Diamond.

Junior shortstop Matt McLain hit a solo home run in the top of the first for the Bruins (16-10, 5-5 Pac-12), but Stanford (18-5, 5-22) established control via two-run home runs from Drew Bowser in the fifth and Adam Crampton in the seventh.

Pettway was solid other than the two big flies, pitching into the seventh inning and recording a trio of 1-2-3 frames.

Freshman third baseman Kyle Karros had three base hits in the contest – a career-high – to pace the Bruin offense. McLain finished 2-4 and drove in both of the team's runs.

Stanford was led on the mound by starter Brendan Beck, who settled down after the McLain home run and held the Bruins to one run for the remainder of his 7 1/3 inning start. He finished with 10 strikeouts.

Trailing 5-1, UCLA had a solid chance to cut into the deficit in the eighth after the Bruins strung together singles from Karros, Kevin Kendall, and McLain to plate a run and chase Beck from the game.

The Cardinal made the move to closer Zach Grech at that point, and the right-handed sidewinder responded with a strikeout for the second out, then ended the inning by making a reflexive snag of a hard-hit JT Schwartz comebacker. The catch robbed Schwartz of a hit and at least one RBI.

UCLA looks to even the series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed on Pac-12.com/live.