The game opened with both teams struggling to score early, as Illinois pitcher Tyler Schmitt and UCLA’s Ian May held the offenses in check through the first two innings. But Illinois capitalized in the bottom of the second, with solo home runs from Vytas Valincius and Kyle Schupmann putting the Illini up 2-0.
UCLA quickly responded in the third inning, tying the game with a two-run rally. Dean West hit an RBI single,followed by a sacrifice fly from Roch Cholowsky to make it 2-2.
The Bruins then took control in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-2 lead. AJ Salgado’s two-run double helped UCLA pull away, forcing Illinois starter Schmitt from the mound. The Illini were caught flat-footed as UCLA looked to take charge.
But Illinois wasn’t ready to give up. The Illini exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Cameron Chee-Aloy and a three-run homer from Collin Jennings . Illinois took a 9-6 lead by the end of the inning, putting the pressure back on UCLA.
However, the Bruins were far from finished. UCLA loaded the bases in the eighth inning and capitalized on a costly throwing error by Illinois pitcher Zach Bates. Two runs scored on the play, narrowing the deficit to 9-8. Then, in the top of the ninth, UCLA completed its comeback with a clutch RBI from Toussaint Bythewood, scoring Salgado and tying the game at 9-9. The Bruins then sealed the win when Bates threw a wild pitch, allowing another run to score, making it 10-9.
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Featured Image Photographed by Jeannie Kim/Daily Bruin.
