| Baseball |
|---|
| Minnesota — 2 |
| UCLA — 5 |
“Getting to wear his jersey and represent him means a lot…” said junior left fielder Dean West following his star performance in UCLA’s closeout victory.
The No. 1 UCLA Bruins (36-3, 21-0 Big Ten) battled Minnesota (22-17, 5-13 Big Ten) in the final game of the series on April 19 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The game came at the end of the final stretch of Jackie Robinson Memorial Weekend, as all the Bruin throwback jerseys bore the historic 42, the legendary number of the late Jackie Robinson.
Junior pitcher Landon Stump got the start for the Bruins and had an impressive outing, pitching four innings, only allowing three hits and one run with two strikeouts. Marcus Kruzan of the Golden Gophers got the start, pitching five innings, giving up four hits and three runs.
The Bruins started early in the bottom of the first inning, with West scoring off an illegal motion by the pitcher, giving UCLA the 1-0 lead. This would be followed by an RBI single from junior third baseman Roman Martin, allowing junior shortstop Roch Cholowksy to score and take the 2-0 lead.
The second inning was scoreless, highlighted by an athletic catch by West, stretching his arm out to make the impressive catch, robbing Minnesota’s Davis Hamilton.
The Bruins would take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third from a solo home run hit by Martin, the first of two home runs hit by the Bruins in the game.
In the midst of what looked to be another Bruin blowout, the Gophers would quickly respond in the fourth inning to get on the scoreboard. Hamilton would hit an RBI single to center field, with Gopher Weber Neels scoring, UCLA’s lead cut to two, 3-1.
The fifth inning was additionally scoreless and featured immaculate defense from the Bruins. With two outs on the board, Gopher Jack Mosh would hit a bouncing ball to second base, with junior second baseman Phoenix Call throwing the out to Cholowsky on second, who then threw the out to first.
Minnesota would close the gap in the sixth inning, with Neels crushing a ball to left field for a solo home run, bringing the Gophers back within one, 3-2.
Luckily for UCLA, junior center fielder Will Gasparino gave the Bruins a comfortable lead in the bottom of the sixth. The center fielder blasted a ball out of the park to left field for a two-run homer, with Gasparino and Martin rounding the bases for a three-run lead, UCLA 3 – Minnesota 2.
The game-winning home run was unappreciated by Minnesota’s dugout, with some complaints of antics by Gasparino. Head coach John Savage explained, “I think he stood in the box a little bit and did one of those watch deals, and they did not like that. I thought he stayed in the box a little too long for me.”
Pitchers redshirt senior Ian May and sophomore Easton Hawk would close out the game for the Bruins, allowing no scores in the remaining innings, and securing the 5-2 victory for UCLA, sweeping the Gophers on Jackie Robinson weekend.
UCLA will now switch its focus towards its Tuesday match-up against Hawaii on April 21 at 6 p.m. PST at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Bruins look to see their fans there and to feel their impact. “To have the fans and their energy on our side, it just makes the game that much easier,” Martin explained.
