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Record Winning Streak Goes To 21

LOS ANGELES, CA – Senior right-hander Garett Claypool (3-0) recorded nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings, and three Bruin relievers combined to throw 2.1 hitless frames, leading the No. 6 UCLA baseball team past Pepperdine, 2-1, on Tuesday evening at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Garrett Claypool (UCLA photo)

The victory pushed UCLA’s historic season-opening win streak to 21 games.

Claypool limited the visiting Waves (8-15) to one unearned run and two hits in extending UCLA’s record to 21-0. Right-hander Dan Klein notched his team-leading fifth save, striking out the side in order in the top of the ninth.

Pepperdine left-hander Aaron Gates (1-5) allowed two runs and five this in 7.2 innings, striking out eight batters and issuing one walk. Gates absorbed the loss despite holding UCLA to its fewest runs and hits in a game this season.

UCLA scored its two run in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of two key bunt singles to secure a 2-0 lead. With runners aboard first and second base, catcher Trevor Brown bunted safely down the third-base line to load the bases with nobody out. Center fielder Chris Giovinazzo reached on a fielder’s choice, sending home first baseman Dean Espy from third. A bunt down the first-base line by third baseman Cody Regis plated left fielder Cody Keefer.

Pepperdine scored one unearned run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center by pinch-hitter Ryan Henry, allowing third baseman Colin Rooney to score from third base. One at-bat earlier, Rooney had advanced to third base on a base hit after Keefer slipped and fell while fielding a ground ball near the left-field line.

Left-hander Matt Grace threw one scoreless frame in relief of Claypool before right-hander Erik Goeddel made one pitch to induce a flyout to right field, ending Pepperdine’s half of the eighth inning.

UCLA (21-0) opens Pac-10 play at home against Stanford (12-7, 2-1 Pac-10) on Thursday, April 1. Game time of the series opener Thursday is for 6 p.m. The Bruins and Cardinal continue their series Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

(Release)

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Claypool’s Big Night Helps Bruins Go To 17-0

Garrett Claypool

Claypool notched his second win in his third start of the season as UCLA extended its win streak to a school-record 17 games. The senior from West Hills, Calif. limited the Gauchos (9-7) to one run (unearned) and three hits and walked just one batter.

UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jesse Meaux (3-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season. Meaux allowed five runs and 10 hits through five innings in his fourth start of the spring.

UCLA’s offense was as impressive as Claypool’s dominant start. The Bruins registered 16 hits, striking for five runs and seven hits to snap a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. All nine starters in UCLA’s batting lineup connected for at least one hit, as six Bruins had two or more hits.

Designated hitter Blair Dunlap extended his team-leading hitting streak to 12 games, going 3-for-5 with two runs. Left fielder Cody Keefer was 2-for-4 with one double, and third baseman Cody Regis was 2-for-5 with one double. First baseman Justin Uribe and center fielder Beau Amaral each went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The Bruins’ five-run fourth inning featured three doubles and four singles, as two of the Bruins’ runs were scored with two outs. Keefer led off the frame with a double deflected into foul territory down the line by a diving attempt from first baseman Trevor White. After a base-hit by right fielder Brett Krill, Keefer scored from third on a double by Regis. A groundout to second by shortstop Niko Gallego plated Krill and pushed Regis to third. Catcher Trevor Brown reached on an infield single to score Regis and was thrown out at home on an ensuing double to left by Dunlap, who took third on the throw. A single up the middle by Amaral scored Dunlap, and after moving to second on a fielding error, Amaral scored from second on a single to right field by Uribe.

UCLA added one run in the sixth inning on a run-scoring groundout by pinch-hitter Dean Espy.

UC Santa Barbara got on the board with one run in the bottom of the seventh. Baserunners at first and second each advanced 90 feet on a passed ball, before a groundout to first base by designated hitter Beck Wheeler sent home second baseman Sean Williams from third base.

The Bruins scored one run in the top of the eighth, pushing their lead to 7-1, on an RBI-single by Keefer.

UCLA plays its final non-conference series of the regular season against Cal Poly, beginning Thursday, March 25. Game time Thursday is 6 p.m. The Bruins and Mustangs continue the series Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Game Notes: Garett Claypool improved his career record to 8-4 and has now recorded 135 strikeouts in 147.2 career innings … the Bruins have won three of their last four games against UC Santa Barbara … Blair Dunlap notched his seventh multiple-hit game of the season and his second three-hit game … Tyler Rahmatulla recorded his team-leading 11th multiple-hit game of the year – Rahmatulla has hit safely in 15 of the Bruins’ 17 games … Erik Goeddel made his ninth appearance out of the bullpen, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning … Dan Klein made his team-leading  11th appearance of the year, recording two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

(UCLA Release)