Baseball triumphs over North Carolina by double digits, avenges earlier loss
Senior right-hander Zach Pettway earned No. 2 seed UCLA baseball at least one more game in the Lubbock Regional, tossing a complete game in the Bruins’ elimination game win over No. 3 seed North Carolina. (Courtesy of Elise Bressler/Texas Tech Athletics)
Baseball
| No. 2 seed UCLA | 12 |
| No. 3 seed North Carolina | 2 |
By Sam Connon
June 6, 2021 4:00 p.m.
The offensive explosion that lifted the Bruins to victory Saturday carried into Sunday, keeping their season alive for at least another few hours.
No. 2 seed UCLA baseball (37-19, 18-12 Pac-12) stormed out of the gates with a five-run first inning, eventually beating No. 3 seed North Carolina (28-27, 18-18 ACC) 12-2 in the second elimination game of the Lubbock Regional. The Bruins avenged their Friday night loss to the Tar Heels with Sunday’s victory, and they will now take on No. 1 seed Texas Tech with a spot in the Super Regionals at stake.
The five runs UCLA plated in the first were nearly a season best for the blue and gold in an opening frame, and they came off a string of four-straight RBI singles. Redshirt sophomore first baseman JT Schwartz was the first to bring a runner home, and the Bruins chased Tar Heel starter Connor Ollio off the mound eight batters in.
It wasn’t just small ball singles for UCLA, though. Freshman center fielder JonJon Vaughns launched a solo shot to left in the third and the Bruins’ four-run fourth and two-run seventh started with doubles by junior shortstop Matt McLain and junior second baseman Mikey Perez, respectively.
Junior catcher Noah Cardenas led his team with three RBIs, joining five other teammates who also had a multi-hit day.
The Tar Heels wound up using eight arms in the game, four of which got tagged with earned runs, as UCLA’s offense posted 17 hits – giving it 25 runs and 31 hits between Saturday’s win over No. 4 seed Army and Sunday’s win over North Carolina.
For all the long rallies and half-hour innings the Bruin bats put together, coach John Savage only had to use one pitcher – senior right-hander Zach Pettway.
Pettway entered the season as a preseason All-American and one of the most decorated pitchers in the Pac-12, but he ended the regular season with a 4.89 ERA and 2-5 record as UCLA’s go-to Friday starter.
Whether it was the new Sunday role, the postseason stage or just a new wind, Pettway turned it around and tossed the first complete game of his career.
Outside of a four-hit, two-run fourth inning, Pettway took care of business and hardly ever found himself in a jam. The senior retired 16 of the last 18 batters he faced, striking out nine total while walking one Tar Heel.
Pettway’s career day – which required 116 pitches – meant Savage didn’t have to turn to his bullpen at all, giving him plenty of fresh options heading into the team’s fourth game in three days. Should UCLA upset Texas Tech on Sunday night, it would take a fifth game Monday to decide which team advances to the next round.
UCLA will take on Texas Tech in game one of the Lubbock Regional final, with first pitch scheduled for 4:36 p.m.
