In college baseball, midweek games are traditionally the ones least likely to result in pitching duels, since teams typically hold their top three starters for the weekend.
Tuesday was an exception, however, as UCLA beat UC Riverside 3-2 on a cold, windy night in front of 385 fans at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The win gives the No. 15-ranked Bruins (3-4) some momentum after being swept over the weekend by No. 5 Miami.
UCLA pitchers allowed only two hits the whole game, striking out 15 batters. UCLA hitters only mustered eight hits themselves against No. 29 UC Riverside.
Bruin freshman starter Garett Claypool, pitching in his first collegiate game, threw three innings of no-hit, shutout ball, striking out three and walking only one.
“It was pretty exciting, and I was just trying not to let the nerves get to me,” Claypool said. “I just got ahead in the count and counted on the defense behind me.”
Sophomore Jason Novak relieved Claypool and pitched just as effectively. In four innings, Novak allowed only one hit and struck out seven.
“I was pretty happy with my performance,” Novak said. “I went out there with a lot of confidence. Coach (John) Savage called a great game, and I knew the defense would back me up.”
UCLA scored two runs in the first inning when sophomore catcher Ryan Babineau hit a single with the bases loaded. The Bruins added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when an error by UC Riverside third baseman Kyle Barratt allowed sophomore Brandon Crawford to score from third. Crawford had reached third on a two-out triple.
That third run turned out to be huge: UC Riverside scored two runs in the top of the ninth and left the potential tying run stranded at second base. In the ninth, junior closer Brant Rustich allowed two walks and a hit and threw three wild pitches. All three outs were recorded via strikeout.
Rustich’s shaky ninth came after a blown save on Saturday and a loss in relief on Sunday.
“Rustich is our closer. He is our go-to guy,” Savage said. “He had a big weekend against Winthrop. Obviously, he struggled in Miami. We believe in him and we were going to give him the ball again tonight.”
Savage said Rustich’s fastballs were in the 94-95 mph range and his slider hit 86 mph on the radar gun.
“He has major-league closer stuff; he just needs to get that confidence going again,” Savage said. “He has a chance to be a big-league closer.”
But the stars of the game were Claypool and Novak. Savage said Claypool has a chance to become the team’s regular Tuesday starter.
“I was very happy the way Garett Claypool came out in his first college outing. He was very poised, threw a ton of strikes,” Savage said. “It was fun to watch.”
UCLA hosts East Carolina this weekend for a three-game series.