The No. 10 Bruins (26-7, 10-3 Big Ten) were defeated by the unranked Washington Huskies (18-17, 9-4 Big Ten) 5-2 on Friday Night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA has now lost two of its last three, the first time that’s happened since late February.
The game got off to a hot start, with former Bruin Malakhi Knight throwing a rocket from center field to home plate, tossing out a potential scorer in the bottom of the 1st inning. Washington got on the board first, mounting an early lead in the top of the 2nd. Empowered by errant Bruin fielding, the Huskies headed into the 3rd inning up 2-0.
The Bruins responded in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring two of their own in a two-out rally. A pair of singles and a fly ball put runners on 2nd and 3rd with Roman Martin at the plate. Martin then looped a single into left field, scoring both runners and equalizing the game 2-2.
Following this, both teams were held scoreless until the 6th inning, which featured two more runs for Washington. One inning later, a sacrifice fly gave them the 5-2 lead.
Elite pitching from Isaac Yeager allowed the visiting Huskies to hold on and defeat the Bruins. After a respectable six innings from Max Banks, Yeager pitched the final three scoreless, throwing six strikeouts.
UCLA struggled to bring in runners all night, leaving 11 stranded on base in total and hitting just 3-20 with runners on base. What scoring the Bruins did manage was led by Martin, who batted in both of their runs. Martin hit 2-4 with two singles and stole a base. Dean West had a great performance as well, batting 3-5 and scoring a run.
UCLA’s best hitter, Roch Cholowsky, who bats .371, went 0-5 in the affair with a strikeout. After a popout in the bottom of the 9th, he slammed his bat against the ground in frustration, a culmination of one of the star shortstop’s worst games of the season. The performance snapped Cholowsky’s eight game hitting streak.
Despite their inability to score, UCLA actually out-hit their opponent 8-7, but it was Washington’s ability to capitalize off of runners on base that allowed them to prevail. The Huskies batted .333 with runners in scoring position, to UCLA’s .182.
UCLA will play two more against Washington before heading North for matchups against Oregon and Oregon State.
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UCLA players lean over dug out railing as they watch their teammates at bat. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
Washington's closing pitcher and catcher celebrate with a hug after the game's final strikeout. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
UCLA's outfielder Dean West, #36, runs down first baseline after hitting a line drive towards left field. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
UCLA's infielder #4, Phoenix Call (left) swings while at bat with umpire (right) in frame. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
UCLA players lift their caps in dug out as they rally in players post inning. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
