UCLA baseball hung onto early inning success to defeat Pepperdine
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No. 1 UCLA baseball hung on to narrow victory over Pepperdine 5-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
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The Bruins batters struggled to find a consistency that UCLA fans have grown accustomed to as the Waves held them in check for five innings. Pepperdine's pitching staff came prepared, but they were unable to match up against the Bruins' arms as UCLA allowed eight hits but only three runs, while racking up had nine strikeouts from their seven pitchers.
Both teams batters found success in the first inning with both teams adding two runs in the frame.
The Bruins defense awoke in the second inning though to prevent any base runners, which allowed UCLA's batters to aggressively add onto their score with two runs off of three hits. Although the Bruins seized the advantage, UCLA's attack was cut short with consecutive outs, leaving two runners on base.
The Waves were able to cut into UCLA's lead in the top of the third with a run being scored off of two hits, but the Bruins clung on to their lead until the top of the fifth. Pepperdine's batters were hit with a series of fortune as UCLA allowed the Waves to score a run from multiple defensive mistakes, which ended with a fielder's choice allowing Pepperdine to tie the game up at four a piece.
In the bottom of the sixth, UCLA redshirt junior outfielder Payton Brennan would smack a homer to left center to regain a lead that the Bruins would not give up for the rest of the game.
Although UCLA continued to look for offensive success and had the bases loaded in the bottom of the eight, they would be unsuccessful at increasing their one-run lead. Fortunately for them, UCLA pitching continued to be stingy and closed out the game in the top of the ninth with two struck out swinging while allowing just one run.
The Bruins will begin their series against Maryland at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday with an anticipated start time of 6 p.m. PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA baseball defeats Pepperdine with early inning offensive success