UCLA Wins High-Scoring Affair at LBSU

Christoph Bono and Coach Bryant Ward (Photo by Katie Meyers)

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The UCLA Bruins held on to defeat the Long Beach State Dirtbags, 11-10, on Tuesday evening at Blair Field. The Bruins led by as many as nine runs, but eventually captured a one-run victory over the Dirtbags.

The Bruin offense racked up nine hits on the night, led by Luke Persico (3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) who led the team with three. Sean Bouchard (1-for-5, 3 RBI, BB) was also productive, driving in a team-high three runs.

Nathan Hadley (1-0) earned the win for the Bruins, throwing two scoreless innings with three
strikeouts out of the bullpen. Long Beach State starter Jacob Hughey (0-2) received the loss after lasting just 0.1 inning, allowing four runs on two hits. Moises Ceja (4) recorded the save after closing out the final two innings with three strikeouts.

UCLA (21-21) took a strangle hold on the game right away with a huge first inning to jump out in front of the Dirtbags. The Bruins brought 14 men to the plate in an inning which saw them score a single inning season-high eight runs on five hits. Every player in the lineup reached at least once and Brett Urabe and Persico each recorded two hits and two RBI in the frame which gave UCLA an early, 8-0, lead.

Long Beach State (26-17) pushed back with single runs in the bottom of the first and second to cut the Bruin lead to six. However, UCLA responded with three more runs in the top of the third. Sean Bouchard drove in one with an RBI-single and Christoph Bono drove in two more with a single of his own to lift the Bruins to an, 11-2, advantage.

Once again the Dirtbags pushed back, this time with four runs in the bottom of the third to pull within five. Long Beach State totaled three hits in the inning, including a two-run single from Domenic Colacchio to make the score, 11-6, after three innings of play.

Then, following a scoreless fourth, the Dirtbags continued their comeback effort with another three runs in the fifth. With two outs, Zack Domingues and Garrett Hampson delivered back-to-back singles to once again cut the Bruin lead down, this time to two runs.

Long Beach State continued to put the pressure on, scoring another run in the eighth to get within just one run. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ceja came up with a clutch strikeout on a high fastball to hold the Dirtbags there and maintain the, 11-10, edge for the Bruins.

Ceja then went on to close out the ninth, allowing just one bunt single, to finish off the one-run non-conference win for UCLA.

The Bruins next game will be Friday, May 6 at 6:00pm PT when they host the UC Irvine Anteaters to begin a home and home three-game series. Friday and Sunday will be played at Jackie Robinson Stadium, while UCLA will travel to Anteater Ballpark for Saturday’s contest. Tickets for both home games can be purchased by visiting uclabruins.com/tickets or by calling 310-UCLA-WIN. All three games can be heard live on uclabruins.com.

Notes: Eric Filia has now reached base in 41 of 42 games this season…Luke Persico extended his hit streak to nine consecutive games…Kort Peterson has reached base in 16 consecutive games…Brett Urabe set a new single game career-high with three runs…Sean Bouchard tied a single game career-high with three RBI…UCLA has scored at least one run in the first inning in six consecutive games and seven of its last eight games...The eight run first inning is the most runs UCLA has scored in a single inning all season…Trent Chatterton is just two games away from playing in his 200th career game at UCLA…At 4:44 this was the second longest game UCLA has played this season.