Jackets drop game two to No. 3 UCLA, 8-2

Connor Thomas faced off against Jack Ralston, a redshirt junior RHP. Neither had an earned run against them after a game each, but that quickly changed. In the end, Connor got little offensive support for the second week in a row as he took the loss.

The Jackets struck first, when Colin Hall doubled in the bottom of the 1^st, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came in on Tristin English’s sac fly. The lead was short lived, though, as UCLA used two singles and a two out double to lead 2-1.

The game was lost in the top of the 3^rd. A strikeout, single, and fielder’s choice had a runner on 1^st with two outs and a chance to end it. But, failing to turn a possible 4-6-3 DP gave the Bruins the opening to put together another single, a double, and HR to left and it was 6-1. Tech got a single run back in their 4^th on a sacrifice by Jackson Webb, making his first start at second base for the injured Luke Waddell. But, 6-2 was the closest Tech would get. UCLA added single runs in the 7^th and 9^th to make the final 8-2 and the series even at 1-1. Ralston got the win, Thomas the loss. UCLA used three effective pitchers and Tech used six. Hugh Chapman, Will Shirah, and Jake Lee pitched well, and Micah Carpenter and Amos Willingham gave up one run each, Carpenter’s on a second Bruin HR.

The Bruins showed what makes them highly ranked, using shutdown pitching and timely hitting with power.