Rajcic Deals, UCLA Throws One-Hitter to Down WSU, 4-0
LOS ANGELES – Sophomore right-hander Max Rajcic threw the first eight innings of a combined one-hitter as No. 22 UCLA defeated Washington State 4-0 on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
It was the finest start of the year yet for Rajcic, who fanned a career-high 14 batters with no walks for the Bruins (31-18, 15-10 Pac-12). He becomes the first Bruin with 14 strikeouts in a single game since Ryan Garcia equaled the feat against Utah on Apr. 26, 2019.
The Cougars (23-24, 9-16) mustered just a single against Rajcic, which came with two outs in the top of the first off a roller from three-hitter Jacob McKeon. WSU only had one player reach base the rest of the night, and it came on a strikeout as Rajcic caught Elijah Hainline looking at a curveball that ultimately reached the back stop.
Rajcic went 1-2-3 in six of his eight frames, and retired 14 consecutive batters at one point. He had the strikeout pitch working all night, recording at least one strikeout in each inning but the first. He fanned five consecutive batters at one point, striking out the side in order in the second.
One hit over eight innings.
1️⃣4️⃣ strikeouts with no walks. @maxrajcic isn't afraid of Friday the 13th. #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/5cIq9T8TtE
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) May 14, 2022
Freshman closer Alonzo Tredwell got the ninth inning and didn't make things any easier for the Cougars, throwing just 11 pitches in a three-up, three-down frame.
The one-hitter was UCLA's first as a staff since holding Texas A&M to one knock on Feb. 29, 2020 as part of the Frisco College Classic.
UCLA produced all its offense in the first inning, going through the entire lineup to produce a decisive four-spot.
Freshman second baseman Ethan Gourson had the biggest knock of the rally, lining one into the left field corner for a two-run double that opened the scoring. Another run came in when sophomore DH Daylen Reyes rolled one through the left side for an RBI single, and Carson Yates closed the game's scoring with a booming RBI double off the wall in left-center.
Six different Bruins ended up collecting a hit on the night, including Jake Palmer who extended his reached-base streak to a team-high 31 games.
WSU starter Cole McMillan settled down after that first inning, pitching into the seventh without allowing any further scoring.
The Bruins and Cougars resume the series on Saturday afternoon starting at 2:00 p.m. on Pac-12 Los Angeles.