May 15, 2012
Fullerton, Calif. - Trevor Brown's single through the five-six hole drove home the winning run and Shane Ziele drove home two more with a single to right to cap a three-run ninth inning and lift No. 11 UCLA to a 6-3 non-conference victory over No. 8 Cal State Fullerton at Goodwin Field Tuesday night.
Bruin closer Scott Griggs (1-1) pitched the last 1.2 innings and struck out three to earn the win for the Bruins who improved to 36-13 on the year. Jose Cardona (0-2) suffered the loss by giving up three runs over 2.1 innings, dropping the Titans to 32-16.
The Titans plated the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Bruin third baseman Kevin Kramer was unable to handle the shortstop's throw on a force out at third. The throw darted away far enough for pinch-runner Austin Diemer to round third and score just ahead of the throw to make it 3-3. Fullerton tried for another quick run but a squeeze bunt attempt by Richy Pedroza was unsuccessful as Griggs' fielded the bunt cleanly and cut down the runner trying to score from third at the plate.
But the Bruins came back with four singles that plated three big runs in the ninth to take the wind out of the Titans' sail and sweep the season series. UCLA's bullpen allowed just one unearned run over the final 4.1 innings in relief of starter Grant Watson. The Titan bullpen allowed the final four runs (three earned) to score following a 5.1 inning, 5-hit, 2-run effort from starter Koby Gauna.
UCLA got their two runs early off of Gauna on a one-out, two-run double to right by Kevin Kramer in the second inning.
The Titans' chipped away at the Bruins' lead, scoring once in the fourth on an RBI single by Anthony Trajano off Watson, and once in the sixth with an run-scoring single from J.D. Davis off reliever Eric Jaffe.
The Bruins again took the lead at 3-2 in the seventh off lefty Dave Birosak. Birosak hit the leadoff hitter Kramer and then got consecutive outs on a popped up bun and a fly ball. With two down, Tyler Heinman singled Kramer to third, and Cody Keefer drove him home with a ball hit just inside the first base bag for a double.
Fullerton, which had 10 hits on the night, got three out of Matt Chapman, and two each from Pedroza and Trajano. UCLA's Keefer led the visitor's 11-hit charge.
The Titans will play their final three regular-season home games this weekend at Goodwin Field. They will host the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders for a three-game set, Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. to work around university commencement exercises.