Series Evened

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Stanford battled back from an early 4-0 deficit on Friday night to tie it, but ultimately lost 5-4 to UCLA at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The series is tied at a win apiece and the rubber match will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Friday's game was special as it fell on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson – a UCLA alum and namesake of the Bruins' baseball stadium – breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. While teams across MLB wore No. 42 in honor of Robinson, Stanford's Joe Lomuscio opted not to wear his traditional No. 42 this weekend to honor Robinson's legacy.
 
Kody Huff and Brett Barrera each had three-hit nights for the Cardinal, while sophomore Drew Bowser and freshman Braden Montgomery each hit home runs.
 
UCLA grabbed an early lead in the top of the second on a two-run home run and chased Stanford starting pitcher Drew Dowd from the game. Ty Uber came on in relief and allowed just two runs in 4.2 innings while striking out five.
 
After falling behind 4-0, Bowser's leadoff, solo home run in the top of the fifth put Stanford on the board, and Montgomery's monster two-run home run in the top of the sixth brought the Cardinal within a run.
 
Stanford tied the game in the top of the eighth, as Huff singled home Carter Graham with one out. The Bruins quickly broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth, though, as a leadoff single was followed by a failed pickoff attempt, which led to an unearned run.
 
The Cardinal threatened in the top of the ninth, getting two runners on with one out, but Stanford couldn't push the tying run across.
 
UCLA has now played eight, one-run games in their last 10, and is 7-1 in those games. The two teams will meet in the series finale at 4 p.m. on Saturday and the game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks.