Los Angeles, CA–The UCLA baseball team opened up their Pac-12 games against the Arizona Wildcats at the Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles, California, the beginning of a three game series.
Battling from a tie game in the top of the eighth inning, the Wildcats (12-5) ultimately dropped the opener against the Bruins (11-5) on Friday night.
Preston Price has been Arizona’s most dependable relief pitcher this season, but he hit a road block Friday night. Price had a problem with his control and had a difficult time finding the strike zone.
Price, who allowed only two earned runs and four walks in 12.1 innings entering the contest, walked three batters in the ninth though one was intentional after an infield single and an error gave the Bruins’ runners on second and third with one out.
The Wildcats were down 2-0 with two out in the eighth inning when Donta’ Williams doubled off the wall in left and Jacob Blas hit a 2-run home run to tie the game. Arizona (12-5, 0-1) finished with six hits, two by Jacob Berry, but also struck out a season-high 13 times against three Bruins’ flame throwers.
UA starting pitcher Chase Silseth pitched a great game, working 6.2 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out nine. The pitch count for Silseth was 108 and that was it for him for the night.
Both teams would finish with six hits and one error a piece. As close as this game was, Arizona could not move their players around the bases against the Bruins.
Arizona and UCLA will play two of their three-games set on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. MST.
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