UCLA baseball defeats Cal State Fullerton 12-2 in season’s first road game

Source: dailybruin.com --- Wednesday, February 28, 2018
The Bruin bats got hot late in a win over the Titans. No. 11 UCLA Baseball (7-1) traveled to Cal State Fullerton (1-7) for a midweek contest Tuesday night, where the Bruins scored nine runs in the final two innings to secure a 12-2 victory. Sophomore Ryan Garcia took the hill for UCLA in his second start of the season and pitched five innings of one-run ball. He struck out five, but also walked three on 93 pitches. Coach John Savage has now been able to see the top-four guys in his rotation twice each, and said he is satisfied with where they stand. “We think our starting pitching is solid,” Savage said. “(Senior Jake) Bird, (junior Jon) Olsen and then (freshman Zach) Pettway’s emergence … (and) Garcia’s given us two good starts (against Pepperdine), so you know, I think we’re happy with where those guys are at.” The Bruins jumped out to an early lead in the second inning after sophomore second baseman Chase Strumpf took Fullerton starter Tanner Bibee deep for his second homer of the season. Later in the inning, freshman right fielder Garrett Mitchell added to the lead with a single up the middle, knocking home two more runs. He went on to record a third RBI later in the game, but his first hit would prove to be the game-winner. Savage said it is important that underclassmen such as Strumpf and Mitchell in the middle of the order remain locked in because of the offensive firepower they possess. “They’re a very talented group. Ou ...

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