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UCLA baseball sees walk-off win in 1st matchup of series against Arizona

For the second time this season, junior designated hitter Jack Filby worked a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give No. 11 UCLA baseball a walk-off victory. (Esther Ma/Daily Bruin)

Baseball


Arizona2
No. 11 UCLA3

By Taiyo Keilin

March 20, 2021 10:46 a.m.

For the second time this season, the Bruins were walk off winners.

And for the second time this season, all Jack Filby had to do to become the hero was use his eyes.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, the junior designated hitter – serving as a pinch hitter – watched four straight offerings from Arizona (12-5, 0-1 Pac-12) right-hander Preston Price miss the zone and No. 11 UCLA baseball (11-5, 1-0) was in the win column on the opening night of conference play for the 14th time in 15 years.

“Filby (did) a nice job of what he does,” said coach John Savage. “He sees the ball really well at the plate and no panic, and fortunately, we came out with a win on Friday night.”

The Bruins led off the bottom of the ninth with a four-pitch walk to redshirt sophomore first baseman JT Schwartz who was erased on a fielder’s choice by senior outfielder Jarron Silva, acting as the first pinch hitter of the frame. Sophomore right fielder Michael Curialle bounced an infield single up the middle, which second baseman Kobe Kato threw away, allowing both runners to move into scoring position.

Arizona intentionally walked junior catcher Noah Cardenas to load the bases for Filby, the second pinch hitter in the inning. Like he did against UC Irvine on Feb. 26, Filby stood and watched as four consecutive pitches missed the strike zone, earning his team-leading 19th walk of the season to give his squad the victory.

“I love it,” Curialle said about Filby’s patience. “That guy has a knack for walking. … He just sees the ball really well up there, gets in a lot of deep counts and then ends up either drawing a walk or putting the ball in play.”

Five innings prior to the commotion, the Bruins opened the scoring, sparking a one-out rally to load the bases. An out later, Curialle stepped up to the box and blooped a ball into shallow right field, plating a pair to give senior right-hander Zach Pettway a 2-0 lead.

Pettway kept the lead intact, tossing five shutout innings in his third start since returning from an injury. The senior allowed three hits and struck out six in his no decision.

“Me and coach Savage were on the same page, so that was working well for me,” Pettway said. “He had a lot of trust in me and just kind of used the defense tonight. … It’s always good to throw a couple innings in Jackie – it’s always nice to be out there and pitching on Friday night. So I think every time I go out there, it’s a pleasure.”

Following Pettway was sophomore right-hander Jared Karros, who has been the first in relief in all three of Pettway’s starts. He retired the first eight Wildcat batters he faced, including four by way of the K, before a two-out double in the top of the eighth ended his night.

Savage elected to give the ball to his closer, junior right-hander Sean Mullen, who promptly gave up a game-tying home run to shortstop Jacob Blas.

Despite the blown save, Mullen ended up earning the win in relief, his fourth victory this year and first out of the bullpen, as he worked around a double and an intentional walk in the top of the ninth to keep the Wildcats off the board.

“(Mullen’s) been as good as guys we’ve had, all season,” Savage said. “It’s baseball. You’ve got to have a short memory if you’re a closer like that, and you got to give him credit – he gives up a two-run homer and then he strikes out (right fielder Ryan) Holgate and he worked through it. You got to be able to take a blow, and they threw one and Sean gets the next guy out so he did what he’s supposed to do.”

The two teams will square off again Saturday at 2 p.m. with junior right-hander Jesse Bergin drawing the start for UCLA against Arizona southpaw Garrett Irvin.

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Taiyo Keilin | Sports senior staff
Keilin is currently a Sports senior staff writer. He was previously an assistant Sports editor on the baseball, women's soccer, cross country, women's golf and men's golf beats. Keilin was also a contributor on the baseball, women's golf and men's golf beats.
Keilin is currently a Sports senior staff writer. He was previously an assistant Sports editor on the baseball, women's soccer, cross country, women's golf and men's golf beats. Keilin was also a contributor on the baseball, women's golf and men's golf beats.
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