After a disappointing loss in the series opener, the Bruins (38-15, 21-8 Big Ten) triumphed over Northwestern (25-26, 13-16 Big Ten) with an 8-2 win in game two. UCLA got on the board early with a combined five runs in the first two innings, including a two-run homer from sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky in the second inning. Cholowsky was recently selected as a Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, or NCBWA.
The UCLA shortstop went 3-for-4 on Friday night, with a single in the fourth inning and a walk in the first inning to accompany his homer. Sophomore first baseman Mulivai Levu batted in the first two runs for the Bruins with a double off of Northwestern freshman right-handed pitcher Matthew Kouser. In only 1.2 innings pitched, Kouser gave up six hits, five earned runs and one walk. Fellow freshman, left-handed pitcher Christian Forniss, replaced Kouser in the bottom of the second inning. Forniss would go on to pitch 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs.
UCLA junior right-handed pitcher Michael Barnett had a much better night, pitching a total of 6.1 innings and only giving up two earned runs to the Wildcats. Barnett dealt a total of eight strikeouts, with sophomore right-handed pitcher Cal Randall and freshman right-handed pitcher Easton Hawk adding another three strikeouts for a grand total of 11 strikeouts from the Bruin bullpen. Barnett picked up his tenth win of the season, adding to a very impressive 10-1 record on the season.
The Wildcats were only able to get two on the board in the fifth inning, with a double from graduate student utility player Tyler Ganus and a sacrifice fly from graduate student second baseman Jacob Hand. Despite Northwestern continuing to get hits off the Bruins into the later innings, the Wildcats would end up leaving five on base over the remainder of the game and fail to score more runs.
The rest of the Bruins’ runs were batted with a single by sophomore third baseman Roman Martin in the second inning and a sacrifice fly by redshirt sophomore right fielder AJ Salgado in the sixth inning. A ground out by redshirt sophomore center fielder Payton Brennan in the sixth inning and a fielder’s choice by sophomore left fielder Dean West in the seventh inning rounded out UCLA’s eight-run win.
The Bruins look to take the series with their series and season finale May 17 at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
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Featured Image Photographed by Libby Li/Daily Bruin
