No. 1 UCLA Bruins won 5-3 in their second game against Sacramento State in Los Angeles at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday.
After the Bruins nearly lost to the Hornets in the opener, their bats continued to struggle against Sacramento State’s pitching staff with eight hits and five runs. UCLA was able to stay in the game with the work of senior right-handed pitcher Michael Barnett and three other pitchers to step on the mound, allowing a total of five hits and five walks for the three runs.
Hornets sting first
In the top of the first, Sacramento State made got only one hit off of Barnett, but it resulted in a two-run homer to give the Hornets the early lead. UCLA got themselves in position to score with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, but were unable to push any runs across.
Bruins roar onto the scoresheet
After a scoreless second inning, UCLA got themselves on the board with a home run by junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky to begin the bottom of the third. The home run was Cholowsky’s 15th of the season, as he’s continued to live up to the hype this season.
Evening the score
The Bruins got another home run to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth. This time it was junior first baseman Mulivai Levu, who smacked a homer to center field to get the Bruins tied up.
Keeping things close
In the bottom of the sixth, junior outfielder Will Gasparino hit the Bruins third home run of the game, and Gasparino’s 18th of the year, to give UCLA the lead. That lead was short-lived however. The Hornets tied the game back up in the top of the seventh with a score off of a sacrifice fly.
Winning time in the eighth
UCLA was aggressive in the bottom of the eighth with three hits leading to a score off of a wild pitch and another run off of an RBI single to put the Bruins up two runs headed into the ninth. The Hornets were not able to keep the game alive with three batters stepping up to the plate in the ninth, and none reaching base.
The Bruins will play their series finale against the Hornets on Sunday with an anticipated start time of 1 p.m. PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA takes second game against Hornets with two-run eighth inning
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
