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UCLA Drops 5-3 Result to Florida State in Regional Opener

by uclabruins.com
Jun 3, 2022
Max Rajcic (photo: Jason Campbell)

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2-seed UCLA baseball team dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 3-seed Florida State in the opening game of the NCAA Auburn Regional at Plainsman Park on Friday afternoon.
 
In the double-elimination NCAA Regional format, the Bruins (38-23) will take on either No. 1-seed Auburn or No. 4-seed Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at 10 a.m. PT (12 p.m. CT).
 
UCLA trailed 3-0 midway through the contest and reduced Florida State's cushion to 4-3 after eight innings.
 
Florida State left-hander Parker Messick (7-5) earned the victory, limiting UCLA to two runs and four hits through five innings.
 
UCLA right-hander Max Rajcic (8-5) absorbed the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in six frames.

"It was a hard-fought game, I thought both teams did a really good job of putting two pretty good pitchers into some tough situations," said UCLA head coach John Savage. "We had some opportunities, but [Florida State] did a little bit more with their opportunities than we did."
 
The Seminoles (34-23) led from the start on Friday, scoring one run in the first inning before adding a pair of runs in the fifth to lead 3-0.
 
Jordan Carrion lined a two-run triple into the right field corner in FSU's two-run fifth inning. Colton Vincent and Tyler Martin had reached base with one out on a base-hit and walk, respectively, before Carrion lined a triple to right field.
 
Michael Curialle helped the Bruins end the top of the fifth inning with a double play on a flyout in right field, throwing out Carrion at home plate.
 
UCLA scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting Florida State's margin to 3-2. Carson Yates belted a solo home run to left field, his sixth round-tripper of the season, to put the Bruins on the board. Kenny Oyama followed with an infield single, advanced on a ball in the dirt, and scored on a two-out single to left field by Jake Palmer.

Florida State added one run in the top of the sixth inning. The Seminoles took advantage of a leadoff walk by James Tibbs and a double off the left field wall by Brett Roberts, scoring Tibbs from first base.
 
The Bruins closed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, as Ethan Gourson scored from third base on a wild pitch. Florida State responded in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to right field from Alex Toral.

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