Freshman Rhys Hoskins went 2-for-4 but the Hornets lost at UCLA on Friday night.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Bruins' pitching staff surrendered just two hits and the Sacramento State baseball team lost the series opener at No. 24 ranked UCLA, 5-2, on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Hornets (4-5) scored twice in the fifth after two walks and an error but otherwise could not get anything going against the Bruins (6-3). UCLA won its fourth straight game and limited the opposition to two hits for the second straight contest. The Bruins surrendered two hits in their 9-1 win over Long Beach State last Tuesday.
UCLA starting pitcher Adam Plutko allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. His error on a throw to first in the fifth allowed the Hornets two score both of their runs.
Plutko started off the fifth with walks to Kyle Moses and Justin Higley and after Andrew Ayers' sacrifice bunt rolled to the mound, the right-hander's throw sailed over the first baseman's head and Moses scored while Higley moved to third. Derrick Chung hit into a double play in the next at-bat, but Higley was able to score from third.
Plutko went 1-2-3 in the sixth inning and four UCLA relievers did not give up a hit in the final three frames. Scott Griggs earned his third save after pitching the ninth.
Freshman Rhys Hoskins had both of Sacramento State's hits against the Bruins and the designated hitter is 6-for-9 in his last two games after going 4-for-5 with two home runs at Pacific on Tuesday night. The Jesuit HS grad is hitting a team-high .524 in his first 21 collegiate at-bats.
Sacramento State starter Hunter Greenwood was solid but earned the loss. The sophomore surrendered four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings with two walks and strikeout. Dallas Chadwick threw a perfect eighth inning in relief and has allowed just two hits in his last 5.1 innings pitched.
Tyler Heineman and Cody Keefer each went 2-for-4 with one run for UCLA, and Jeff Gelalich was 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
The Hornets will meet the Bruins in game two of the series at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The final meeting of the three-game set is at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
