UCLA baseball dominates Fresno State in NCAA regional opener, racking up 22 hits
In a dominant display worthy of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins produced a season-best 19-4 victory over the fourth-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs in the regional game held at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday.
The Bruins, ranked 15th nationally, exhibited an offensive showcase throughout the game, accumulating a season-high 22 hits – a significant factor in UCLA's commanding lead.
Junior right-hander Benjamin Royer set the tone early, executing a pregame routine reminiscent of any start, complete with jostling through the strength-training room's obstacles. His pitching performance, however, was an obstacle to overcome, lasting just 4 1/3 innings as he struggled with command against the Bulldogs.
Senior Chris Grothues entered the game in relief, breaking Royer's inherited jam with a crucial 3-6-1 double play and spinning a scoreless sixth inning to secure the victory.
Fresno State starting pitcher Jack Anker felt the brunt of UCLA's offensive barrage, conceding six earned runs and 10 hits across five innings. Anker, who averaged 10.5 strikeouts-per-nine innings, was limited to just two punchouts in this encounter – the second-fewest he had forced against an opposing team this season.
The Bruins' offensive push was spearheaded by Roman Martin, who delivered a season-high four hits, including a seventh-inning home run. Martin's onslaught was not alone; teammate Mulivai Levu also contributed three hits and five RBIs.
"It wasn't the cleanest game - it didn't feel like the cleanest game," expressed UCLA coach John Savage on the contest. "But at the end of the day, at this time of the year, you win any way you can, and certainly we did that today. So, it was a good win."
Despite its lopsided defeat, Fresno State refused to capitulate, playing all nine innings as per NCAA tournament rules. The Bulldogs awaited a comeback that never materialized, as the Bruins scored an additional seven runs in the eighth inning, cementing their dominance.
The UCLA-Arizona State rematch in the winner's bracket is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. PDT. The Bruins split a midweek season series against the Sun Devils, with Arizona State earning a 4-2 victory over UC Irvine the same day.
Notable UCLA Performances:
Roman Martin: 4 hits, a home run, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. Mulivai Levu: 3 hits, 5 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.
- The Bruins, hailing from Los Angeles, California, showcased their sports prowess on the baseball field during their regional game against Fresno State, resulting in a season-best 19-4 victory.
- UCLA's standout player, Roman Martin, demonstrated an impressive performance, scoring a season-high 4 hits, including a home run, and contributing 3 RBIs in the game.
- The Bruins' victory against Fresno State will propel them to face Arizona State in a rematch on Saturday, a team they previously split a season series with, with Arizona State earning a win over UC Irvine on the same day.
