June 12, 2010
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Los Angeles - With the Titans just 1 out away from advancing to the College World Series, UCLA's Tyler Rahmatulla hit a two-run home run off Raymond Hernandez that kept the Bruins alive and allowed them to eventually win Game 2 of the Super Regional over Cal State Fullerton, 11-7, Saturday evening at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Fullerton rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, but saw relievers Kevin Rath (2-3) and Kyle Mertins allow 4 runs (2 earned) in the top of the 10th.
The Titans drop their first game in four tries against the Bruins this season and fall to 46-17 on the year. The Bruins even the best-of-three series at 1 game apiece and improve to 47-14.
The loss for the Titans forces a game three of the Super Regional to be played Sunday night at 7 p.m. That game will decide who advances to the College World Series. The game will feature starters Dylan Floro (7-1, 3.08 ERA) and Rob Rasmussen (10-2, 2.90 ERA)on ESPN2.
UCLA closer Dan Klein (6-0) earned the win by working the final 2 1/3 innings. The righty allowed the tying run in the 9th, but got the final three outs in the 10th. He walked 1 and struck out 2. Rath took the loss for Fullerton.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th, Fullerton scored 4 times off starter Trevor Bauer, who had held them to just four hits up to that point. Billy Marcoe singled to right and Carlos Lopez walked setting up an obvious bunting situation for Joey Siddons. Siddons' bunt was even better than expected, and went as a hit to load the bases for Anthony Hutting. Hutting grounded into a double play, but got the Titans within one as Marcoe scored and left a runner at third for the top of the Titan order.
UCLA pitched around Christian Colon to put runners at the corners and Richie Pedroza delivered and RBI single to left to tie the game at 4-4. After a wild pitch, Corey Jones promptly singled through the right side driving home the go-ahead runs. Jones was retired on the play to end the inning.
The Bruins creeped back in the top of the eighth as Cody Regis belted his second home run in as many at bats to get the Bruins to within 1 run at 6-5. Regis was the first batter faced by Hernandez.
At 6-5 in the top of the ninth, Hernendez got two quick outs and then fell behind both Blair Dunlap, who eventually walked, and Rahmatulla deposited a fastball over the left-center field wall that put the Bruins on top 7-6.
Fullerton did not relent in the bottom of the ninth. Walker Moore singled with one out and was pinch run for by Gary Brown, who has not seen action since May 16 with a broken finger. Brown moved to second on a wild pitch and Colon, walked on four pitches. With Pedroza at the plate, a double steal by the Titans led to the ball getting away from the third baseman Regis, allowing Brown to score with the tying run.
Rath, who came on for the final out of the ninth, stayed in the game in the 10th and got a quick first out by the leadoff hitter Chris Giovinazzo. Jeff Gelalich singled up the middle and then Rath struck out Niko Gallego for the second out. Back-to-back walks to Tyler Heinmeman and Beau Amaral loaded the bases and ended Rath's night. Pinch-hitter Trevor Brown faced reliever Kyle Mertins and delivered a 2-run single through the left side.
Rahmatulla looked to have popped out to end the inning, but Casey Watkins dropped the fly ball in right scoring two more Bruins to put it out of reach for Fullerton.
It was pitcher's duel for three-plus innings between Bauer and Titan starter Daniel Renken. Neither team broke through until the fourth. Justin Uribe hit a solo homer in the top of the inning off Renken for the Bruins to give them a brief 1-0 lead. Tyler Pill doubled with one out for the Titans and then came home to score on Billy Marcoe's looping single to left-center in the bottom of the frame.
UCLA pushed a run across in the top of the fifth as Renken struggled with his control. After a strikeout of leadoff hitter Gelalich, Renken walked Gallego. Gallego stole second and third easily before Renken walked Steve Rodriguez to put runners at the corners. Beau Amaral laid down a successful safety squeeze to give the Bruins the 2-1 lead. Renken walked the bases loaded and was done after just 4 1/3. Colin O'Connell came on and got two pop ups to end the inning.
Fullerton manufactured a run in their half of the fifth to tie the game back up a t 2. Siddons singled and moved to second on a hit-and-run groundout. Colon lifted a ball deep enough to right to move Siddons to third, and Pedroza singled him home.
The Bruins wasted no time getting back on top in the sixth as Cody Regis hit an opposite field home run off O'Connell just out of the reach of left fielder Anthony Hutting. A base hit, a walk and a misplayed bunt set up a second UCLA run as Steve Rodriguez grounded into a double play. Bruins led 4-2.
The Titans out-hit the Bruins 11-9 on the night and were led by Marcoe who had 2. Pedroza and Siddons each had 2 apiece. Pedroza and Jones led the way with 2 RBI each.
Justin Uribe had three hits for UCLA while Trevor Brown, Rahmatulla and Regis drove home 2 to lead the Bruin offense.