UCLA baseball strikes out after failing to rally in final frames against Omaha

Thatcher Hurd threw heat on a cold evening.

In his first career start donning the blue and gold, the freshman right-hander allowed one run in five innings while notching 11 strike outs – the most by a UCLA freshman since 2016.

Despite’s Hurd’s debut start, UCLA baseball (2-3) lost to Omaha (2-3) with a score of 9-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Wednesday night. Bruin relievers conceded eight runs in innings six, seven and eight after taking over for Hurd.

After blowing saves Sunday and Tuesday then giving up the lead Wednesday, coach John Savage said there will be changes coming to the bullpen.

“The bullpen will be a pretty different look here in a couple of weeks,” Savage said. “We have not gotten in good counts, and (they) have really opened themselves up to some big innings. We’re not used to that, and we won’t stand for that.”

Starting off the ballgame, Hurd allowed a walk to the first batter he faced but followed that up with eight straight strikeouts to go with a fly out to close the third inning. The top-ranked pitcher in California from a year ago got through the fourth unscathed as well, adding another strikeout to his total.

Hurd said nothing changed for him after the first batter, he just wanted to stick to his game plan.

“I was just trying to be relentless,” Hurd said. “Just trying to get the ball in the glove and just go and have some fun. I just wanted to really go after it and trust my stuff.”

UCLA was unable to get anything going through the first three innings, garnering only one hit. But in the fourth after loading the bases, freshman center fielder Malakhi Knight grounded into a fielder’s choice to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Hurd saw his no-hitter come to an end in the fifth inning on a base hit down the right field line. The Mavericks followed that up with a hit batter and another single and tied the game at 1-1 on a fielder’s choice.

The right-hander struck out the final batter of the frame to strand the two runners on base, concluding his time on the mound.

Savage said he was happy with Hurd’s first start but added the right-hander is just a part of the group of freshmen pitchers that are going to make a big impact on the program.

“Hurd was 92 to 95 (miles per hour) and throws all kinds of strikes and was really impressive,” Savage said. “Over the last two nights, you’ve seen the future of our pitching.”

Senior left-hander Daniel Colwell replaced Hurd in the sixth, and Omaha quickly took advantage of the pitching change. The Mavericks tallied back-to-back doubles to open the inning, giving them a 2-1 lead.

The lead didn’t last long, as in the bottom of the sixth Knight tallied his second and third RBIs of the contest when he knocked a triple into right center to put the Bruins back on top 3-2. Junior outfielder/left-hander Josh Hahn made it 4-2 with a pinch-hit fielder’s choice to the first baseman who short hopped the catcher on the throw home.

Knight – who leads the team in RBIs and is second in hits – said when he is at the plate he just tries to keep his composure and stay relaxed.

“I just try not to make the moment bigger than it needs to be,” Knight said. “Just keep it simple and don’t think too much about it. I just try to keep it small and have a good approach, and I’ve been sticking to it.”

Omaha rallied in the top of the seventh, when second baseman Cam Frederick knocked a single into right to cut UCLA’s lead to one run. Following a pair of errors by the Bruins, the Mavericks retook the lead at 6-4.

Omaha put up more crooked numbers in the eighth, when senior right-hander Jack Filby surrendered two runs on three walks and two hit batters. Redshirt freshman right-hander Chris Aldrich relieved Filby and surrendered a walk of his own, leading to a 9-4 Omaha lead.

UCLA was unable to put up a rally in the final two frames and dropped its third game in its last four contests.