Middle infielders carry UCLA to series win at midway point of season

Shortstop Kevin Kramer was all over the field this weekend, almost as if he had something to prove.

That much was evident throughout UCLA’s two victories over Oregon State on Friday and Saturday, but particularly in the fourth inning Friday night.

In the top half of the frame, the redshirt junior got the Bruins out of a jam by charging a high-chopping ground ball and zipping a throw to first to nab the Beaver baserunner by half a step.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kramer was at bat with two outs and a runner on third, the score tied 0-0. He battled back from a 1-2 count disadvantage, fouling off several pitches before lacing an RBI single back up the middle, 1-0.

But Kramer wasn’t done. He stole second a couple pitches later. Then he stole third the pitch after that.

“There are some stretches where it kind of just flows,” Kramer said. “The body kind of takes over at that moment and you just kind of roll with it, you know, let it fly and see what happens.”

Kramer didn’t end up scoring in the inning, but his aggressive play appeared to set the tone in the Bruins’ 4-1 win over the Beavers on Friday.

After Kramer’s standout defensive play to end the top of the fourth, UCLA senior starting pitcher Grant Watson had a skip in his step as he walked to the dugout, hopping over the third base line.

If Kramer hadn’t reacted as quickly to get the out, Watson would’ve had to pitch to OSU right fielder Joe Gillette, a .327 hitter, with runners on first and third and two outs. But because of Kramer’s defense, that precarious situation didn’t arise.

In the next two innings after Kramer’s standout play, Watson retired the side in order, striking out the side in the top of the sixth. When Kramer came back up to bat in the bottom of the sixth, the Bruin shortstop worked the count full and then hit an RBI double to the opposite field, making it 3-1 Bruins.

“(Kramer is) an exceptional player,” said coach John Savage. “I don’t think he’s getting the notoriety that a lot of those other guys are getting – (Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby) Swanson and the LSU shortstop (Alex Bregaman) – but I think he can play with anybody.”

When the Bruins and Beavers took the field for the rubber game Sunday afternoon, it was as if nothing had changed. There was Kramer at shortstop, sprinting into foul territory and diving face first for a catch to end the inning with cheers proliferating throughout Jackie Robinson Stadium. In the bottom half of that inning, Kramer hit an RBI single to the opposite field, making the score 2-0 UCLA.

But when the Beavers blitzed the Bruins for five runs in the top of the fourth, it took a collective effort for UCLA to come back. Three different Bruins would provide RBI hits over the next three innings to equalize the score at 5-5 entering the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, UCLA had the bases loaded with one out. This time, it would be Kramer’s double-play partner – junior second baseman Trent Chatterton – who provided the critical hit.

Chatterton got behind in the count 0-2, then watched a pitch barely miss the strike zone, making the count 1-2 with a few groans from the visiting Beaver fans.

“I for sure thought it was down and I don’t think the opposing crowd thought it was down, but it doesn’t matter,” Chatterton said.

On the next pitch, Chatterton lined one the opposite way, bringing in the run that opened the floodgates for the Bruins (23-6, 10-2 Pac-12) against the Beavers (22-9, 5-4).

After Chatterton’s hit, sophomore outfielder Brett Stephens lofted a high pop up to left field, which the OSU left fielder lost in the dimly-lit twlilight sky. The ball eventually landed on the outfield grass and traveled toward the warning track, allowing all three UCLA baserunners to score.

In a series that marked the midway point of the Bruins’ season, it turned out that their middle infield led them to the series victory.