Beavers Even Series With Ninth Inning Rally, Beat UCLA 5-3

After UCLA came back from a 5-1 deficit to win Game 1 of the series, the Beavers won Game 2 in come-from-behind fashion, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win their first game of the season when trailing heading into the last inning. 

Greg Peavey got the start for the Beavers, his ninth of the season. 

The Beavers struck first in the top of the first inning. John Wallace and Ryan Ortiz both reached on singles with one out, putting runners on first and third. Ortiz was picked off at first by UCLA starter Trever Bauer, leaving just Wallace on third. Then, Steffen Romero tripled to center field, scoring Wallace to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead. 

UCLA first baseman Cody Decker evened the game in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right field, and the Bruins took the lead in the fifth when Casey Haerther singled to left field to drive in Blair Dunlap from third. 

It was at that point that the Beavers went to the bullpen, bringing in Mark Grbavac in place of Greg Peavey. Peavey went four and two thirds innings in the game, giving up two runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked two, and threw 93 pitches. 

The Beavers would even the score in the top of the sixth, when Brett Casey hit a cluth single down the right field line to score John Wallace, who walked to lead off the inning, from third. Wallace and Ortiz both got on base to begin the inning before both Steffen Romero and Jared Norris struck out. 

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, UCLA pinch hitter Chris Giovinazzo gave the Bruins the lead with a home run to right field to end a ten pitch at-bat. It was Giovinazzo's first home run of the season, and UCLA's second of the game.

Trailing by one in the top of the ninth, the Beavers looked to extend the game against UCLA closer Gavin Brooks. Rob Folsom led off the inning with a base hit, then Brett Casey bunted him to second base. Adalberto Santos, pinch hitting for Michael Miller, walked. Both runners would move up on a wild pitch by Brooks. Max Schupe. the third pinch hitter of the inning, singled up the middle to score Folsom from third and even the game, leaving runners on the corners. Brent Warren would pinch run for Schupe, and advance to second on a passed ball, putting two runners in scoring position. Tommasini would strike out looking for the second out of the inning, but Joey Wong, who was 0-for-4 on the day coming into the at-bat, singled up the middle on the second pitch of his at-bat to drive in both Warren and Santos to give the Beavers a 5-3 margin.

In the bottom of the ninth,  closer Kevin Rhoderick walked the leadoff man, Murray, but got Chris Giovinazzo (homer in the seventh) to ground into a double play. It then came down to Blair Dunlap, who Rhoderick got to pop up to Wong at short on a full count to end the game. 

Rhoderick, who came on in relief of Josh Osich in the eighth, earned his second win of the season in the game. 

Ryan Ortiz led the Beavers with three hits, giving him multiple hits in 10 of his last 13 games. Seven Beavers each had a hit apiece, including Joey Wong, who was 1-for-5 with 2 RBI's.... the game-winning hit, baybee. 

Casey Haerther led the Bruins offensively and went 2-for-4 from the plate. Starter Trevor Bauer threw eight complete innings in the game, giving up seven hits and two runs. He threw 128 pitches. Closer Gavin Brooks, who has six saves on the year, lost his third game of the season. 

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)