Baseball Drops Series Opener at No. 11 UCLA

Friday, February 23

Los Angeles, Calif.

8:00 PM

Baylor

2-2

#11 UCLA

5-0

Baylor

UCLA

Baseball Drops Series Opener at No. 11 UCLA

2/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2018

Final Stats

THE RUNDOWN
LOS ANGELES - Baylor baseball took a tough, 5-2 loss in its series opener at No. 11 UCLA on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bears (2-2) held the lead until the Bruins (5-0) rallied for four runs in the eighth to win.

BU starter Cody Bradford gave the team a stellar outing, tossing five shutout innings while allowing four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. As soon as he departed, the Bears offense gave him a lead in the top of the sixth.

Davis Wendzel started the rally with a one-out double. With two outs, Cole Haring hit a looping line drive to shortstop that was mishandled and allowed Wendzel to score. Josh Bissonette followed with a single to score Haring for a 2-0 lead.

BU reliever Jacob Ashkinos held down the sixth and gave up a run on two hits in the seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth. After walking the first two batters, Collin Sharp come on and got a quick out on a sacrifice bunt. He hit his next batter before getting a big strikeout with the bases loaded. However, he couldn't wiggle out of the jam as he walked the next two batters to give UCLA a 3-2 lead. Then he gave up a two-run single to Chase Strumpf for a 5-2 UCLA lead that stood.

UCLA reliever Brian Gadsby (2-0) earned the win, giving up a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in one inning. Holden Powell tossed a clean ninth for his first save. Ashkinos (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts in two-plus innings.

NOTES
*Baylor is 12-19 against ranked opponents under third-year head coach Steve Rodriguez (0-1 in 2018, 7-10 in 2017, 5-8 in 2016) and is 3-5 in three-game series against ranked foes. BU's last win over a ranked opponent was April 22, 2017 at No. 6 TCU (16-5) and last series win over a ranked opponent was vs. No. 23 Houston on March 10-12, 2017.

*Baylor is 10-14 under Rodriguez against Baseball America ranked opponents (0-1 in 2018, 7-9 in 2017, 3-4 in 2016) and is 2-4 in three-game series against ranked foes. BU's last win over a Baseball America ranked opponent was April 22, 2017 at No. 6 TCU (16-5) and last series win over a Baseball America ranked opponent was vs. No. 23 Houston on March 10-12, 2017.

*Baylor is 204-302-1 all-time against Baseball America ranked opponents, 24-33-1 in February, 60-152 on the road and 172-255-1 in regular season play.

*Cody Bradford has thrown at least five shutout innings with seven or more strikeouts and four or less hits in each of his first two starts this season, and has yet to give up a run.

*Davis Wendzel has a seven-game on-base streak, dating back to last season, and a three-game hitting streak. He posted his team-high third multi-hit game with two hits.

*Andy Thomas has at least one hit in all four games this season.

*Davion Downey has a three-game on-base streak.

*Cole Weaver made his first career start.

*Collin Sharp made his Baylor debut.

STAT OF THE GAME
5 - The amount of shutout innings Cody Bradford threw in the game and the amount of hits he has given up in two starts this season.

QUOTE OF THE GAME
"That's what great teams do. They find a way to put themselves in situations like [UCLA did in the eighth]. When you have great effort, you get great play, and it usually leads to a great season. We are getting there. I thought our offense did a good job for the most part. I think we struck out a bit too much when it came down to it. But overall, we have to keep competing the way we are." - Baylor Head Coach Steve Rodriguez

WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears and Bruins continue their series with a 4 p.m. CT game Saturday and 3 p.m. finale Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium. For tickets to home games, visit: http://www.baylorbears.com/tickets/. For updates on the program follow @baylorbaseball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

-BU-