Baseball drops series to #11 UCLA
LOS ANGELES – Baylor baseball lost 3-0 in the series rubber match at No. 11 UCLA on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bears (3-3) were unable to solve Bruins (6-1) starter Zach Pettway.
UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on two walks and an error that loaded the bases with one out for an RBI ground out. But neither starter gave up a hit until the sixth inning.
Pettway was the first to lose his perfect game as Levi Gilcrease led off the sixth with a double. Unfortunately, Gilcrease was left at third after a sacrifice bunt. BU starter Hayden Kettler lost his no-hitter with one out in the sixth.
In the seventh, the Bruins made it a 2-0 lead on an HBP, sac bunt and single. Baylor had a chance to counter in the top of the eighth. Andy Thomas led off with a single and Richard Cunningham singled with two outs, but again no runs came.
UCLA added to its lead with a run in the eighth on a triple and double. In the ninth, Davion Downey led off with a double for BU, but was stranded.
Pettway (2-0) earned the win, allowing no runs on three hits with six strikeouts in eight innings. Holden Powell picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth. Kettler (1-1) took a tough loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.
NOTES
*Baylor is 13-20 against ranked opponents under third-year head coach Steve Rodriguez (1-2 in 2018, 7-10 in 2017, 5-8 in 2016) and is 3-6 in three-game series against ranked foes.
*Baylor is 11-15 under Rodriguez against Baseball America ranked opponents (1-2 in 2018, 7-9 in 2017, 3-4 in 2016) and is 2-5 in three-game series against ranked foes.
*Baylor is 205-303-1 all-time against Baseball America ranked opponents, 25-34-1 in February, 61-153 on the road and 173-256-1 in regular season play.
*Hayden Kettler had the best start of his young career, tossing a career-high seven innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. He didn’t give up a hit until one out into the fifth inning.
*Andy Thomas has at least one hit in all six games this season.
*Richard Cunningham has a three-game hitting streak.
STAT OF THE GAME
5 – The amount of innings in which both starting pitchers began the game while allowing no hits.