The No. 1 UCLA Bruins baseball team strung together four runs in the sixth inning to win the second game of the series against Minnesota 6-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The Bruins sent six pitchers to the mound during the nine inning affair and they held their own with four hits and four walks leading to four runs. The pitching staff tagged eight strikeouts over the game as well. UCLA’s batters continued to struggle against the Golden Gophers pitching staff, but they managed 10 hits for six runs this time around.
Falling behind
Minnesota struck first off of an RBI groundout in the top of the first. UCLA had a hit of their own, but it led no where, as they fell behind 1-0 after the first inning.
Ice cold
Both teams couldn’t get a runner across home plate in the next four innings, but UCLA had an opportunity despite having only two baserunners over that stretch. In the bottom of the third, the Bruins had the bases loaded, but had three straight outs to keep them off the scoreboard.
Heating up
UCLA changed their scoreless status with two hits, helping junior outfielder Dean West make it home to tie the game up at 1-1.
On fire
In the top of the fifth, the Bruins gave up a two-run homer, but UCLA’s bats responded ferociously. The Bruins redshirt junior outfielder Payton Brennan started the bottom of the fifth win a home run and UCLA had three more hits to get three more runners home for the Bruins first lead of the game.
Smooth finish
After a scoreless seventh, Minnesota inched closer in the top of the eighth with a home run. UCLA kept the distance with West rushing to home for his second run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. The Golden Gophers couldn’t get on base in the ninth and UCLA earned their second win of the series.
The Bruins will play their series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Sunday and are anticipated to start at noon PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA baseball’s explosive fifth leads to 6-4 win over Minnesota
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
