April 25, 2009

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LOS ANGELES - The UCLA baseball team lost a 5-3 decision to No. 17 Oregon State on Saturday afternoon at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Right-hander Trevor Bauer limited the visiting Beavers to two runs and seven hits through eight innings and did not receive a decision, totaling seven strikeouts and one walk.

Oregon State (24-10, 9-5 Pac-10) scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit and even the three-game Pac-10 series, 1-1. Beaver right-hander Kevin Rhoderick (2-1) earned the victory, tossing 1.2 hitless innings in relief. UCLA left-hander Gavin Brooks (0-3) was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits in the ninth inning.

Beavers' right-hander Greg Peavey surrendered two runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings as Oregon State's starter.

The Bruins (18-21, 10-7 Pac-10) received solo home runs from first baseman Cody Decker, who belted his third round-tripper in as many games, and from right fielder Chris Giovinazzo, who connected for a go-ahead pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. Designated hitter Casey Haerther registered the Bruins' only multiple-hit effort of the day, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Oregon State rallied in the ninth inning, leading off the frame with a single up the middle by pinch-hitter Rob Folsom. After a sacrifice bunt, pinch-hitter Adalberto Santos drew a walk and both baserunners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. A base-hit up the middle by pinch-hitter Max Shupe scored Folsom to tie the game, 3-3. With two outs, shortstop Joey Wong bounced a two-RBI single up the middle to hand Oregon State a 5-3 advantage.

UCLA broke a 2-2 deadlock in the seventh on Giovinazzo's solo homer, a blast to right field coming on the eighth pitch of his at-bat.

The Beavers took the game's first lead, scoring one run on a two-out RBI triple to center by third baseman Stefen Romero in the top of the first. UCLA answered in the bottom of the fourth, as Decker belted his team-leading 15th home run to right field, tying the game, 1-1.

The Bruins secured a 2-1 advantage on Haerther's RBI-single to left field in the bottom of the fifth. The Beavers answered with one run in the top of the sixth to tie the contest, 2-2.

UCLA and Oregon State conclude their three-game Pac-10 series on Sunday. Game time at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium is 1 p.m. A live audio broadcast of Sunday's contest will be available for free at uclabruins.com.

Game Notes: UCLA's four-game Pac-10 win streak was snapped with the loss on Saturday...Casey Haerther notched his team-leading 16th multiple-hit game of the season...Cody Decker moved into eighth place on UCLA's all-time home run list with 41 career round-trippers, surpassing Colorado Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins (40 homers, from 1998-2000)...Decker leads UCLA with a career-best 15 home runs in 2009 - the last Bruin to record 15 home runs or more in one season is Ryan McCarthy, who belted 15 homers in 2004.