Like last Saturday, the Oregon baseball lineup gave Jeff Gold a lead after one inning. But this time, Gold secured the lead and pitched well into the night, helping Oregon (38-16, 16-10 Pac-12) beat UCLA (23-28-1, 10-15) by a score of 4-1 to win the series in Los Angeles, California.
Gold gave up 13 runs (nine earned) over his previous two starts and didn’t get out of the third inning last Saturday against Arizona State. The senior right-hander experienced no such struggles against UCLA, going six innings, allowing seven hits, no walks and one run (earned) while striking out two. He earned his 10th win of the season, tying him for first in the Pac-12. It was also Gold’s 23rd win of his career, tying him with Alex Keudell for most in school history.
With one out in the top of the first inning, Tyler Baumgartner worked a full count and drilled a fastball to right center field. UCLA center fielder Christoph Bono nearly made a tremendous diving catch, but the ball bounced off his glove, resulting in a triple for Baumgartner (2-for-5, one RBI). Kyle Garlick came up next and hit a line drive up the middle. UCLA shortstop Trent Chatterton made a diving stop but couldn’t exchange the ball from his glove to his hand, giving Garlick an RBI single.
In the top of the third, Desmond Santos led off with a single and was driven home two batters later by an Aaron Payne double to right center. Payne stole third two batters later, although it didn’t make a difference because Garlick drove a double to right, putting Oregon up 3-0.
Mark Karaviotis led off the fifth inning and hit a topspinning double to left. Baumgartner drove in Karaviotis two batters later with a single to right.
UCLA’s only run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Shane Zeile (2-for-4) blasted a Gold curveball over the left field fence for a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Jordan Spencer, Darrell Hunter, Garrett Cleavinger and Jake Reed combined to pitch three scoreless innings and preserve Gold’s win. Reed earned his 13th save of the year.
Oregon will go for the sweep of the Bruins tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. Brandon Tessar (2.81 ERA) gets the start for Oregon and will face Cody Poteet (3.95 ERA)
Noteworthy:
– Payne scored his 128th run of his career on Saturday, setting an Oregon record. He passed former shortstop J.J. Altobelli, who set the previous mark last season.
– UCLA starting pitcher Grant Watson went six innings, allowing eight hits, two walks and four runs (all earned) while striking out nine.
– Four of Watson’s strikeouts came against one batter, designated hitter Shaun Chase. Chase’s first three strikeouts were swinging, while the fourth came on a borderline called third strike.
– Chase led the Pac-12 in home runs going into Saturday but is now tied with Stanford’s Alex Blandino, who hit a three-run blast in the Cardinal’s 9-4 win over Washington State Saturday afternoon.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415