The Bruins reached double digits for the first time this season.
UCLA baseball (4-3) defeated UC Riverside (0-6) by a score of 12-0 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. After scoring a combined 12 runs in their previous three games, the Bruins recorded a season-high scoring total in the second game of the series against the Highlanders.
Coach John Savage said he was pleased with his team’s turnaround on the offensive end after a slow start to the season.
“We had a really good approach,” Savage said. “Just a lot of guys contributing and a lot of guys with brilliant at-bats. It was fun to see.”
UCLA got on the board early, after junior shortstop Michael Curialle knocked a triple into the right-center gap to drive in graduate student first baseman Jake Palmer. Freshman second baseman Ethan Gourson plated Curialle and junior designated hitter Josh Hahn on a single to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
The Bruins added to their lead in the second, when Palmer drove a single into right to score sophomore right fielder JonJon Vaughns. Vaughns – who made his first start of the season Saturday – got on base with a walk before he was advanced to second on a bunt by redshirt sophomore catcher Tommy Beres.
Vaughns said it felt good to get back on the diamond after spending the fall on the gridiron as a member of UCLA football.
“(The transition) has been tough, but it takes time,” Vaughns said. “(I know) my teammates believe in me and have trust in me moving forward.”
Sophomore right-hander Max Rajcic got through the first two innings allowing two runners to reach base on an error and a fielder’s choice. However, the Preseason All-American ran into trouble in the third after a pair of two-out walks but escaped the jam with his first strikeout of the game.
Rajcic said his transition from the bullpen a season ago to the starting rotation this year has been smooth.
“It’s taken some time to get used to, obviously, pitching once a week,” Rajcic said. “I’ve always wanted to be a starter, and it’s going pretty good.”
Graduate student left fielder Kenny Oyama batted in Vaughns on a sacrifice fly to left to push the lead to five in the fourth. Vaughns drew his second walk of the game earlier in the inning and followed that up with his first steal of the season before being bunted over to third by Beres.
The blue and gold added two more in the fifth on a pair of RBI doubles by Hahn and freshman third baseman Cody Schrier and a single from Gourson, giving UCLA an 8-0 advantage.
Freshman left-hander Ethan Flanagan replaced Rajcic in the sixth inning, ending the sophomore’s day on the mound. The right-hander finished his second start of the year with a shutout while giving up two hits and striking out five.
Rajcic said he was more focused on the Bruins’ triumph than his individual performance.
“We got the win today, so that’s great. My last outing, we didn’t get a win, so that wasn’t fun,” Rajcic said. “We came out and played with an edge, and it was a good team win.”
The blue and gold added four runs in its last three innings to give it a season high of 12. The Bruins’ last two scoring frames were highlighted by a double and a career-first triple for Vaughns, who reached base five times in the contest in five plate appearances.
After the sophomore launched five home runs in 34 games in 2021, Savage said he is looking forward to Vaughns getting back on track with more playing time.
“At the end of last year, he clearly was one of our better players,” Savage said. “We know what he is capable of doing, and today was a really impressive first start.”
Flanagan and junior right-hander Charles Harrison closed out the game for UCLA, each going two innings allowing one hit. The Bruin pitchers gave up four total hits on the day but fanned seven batters.
“(Flanagan) is 90 to 93 (miles per hour) with a really good change. He’s one of our elite freshman pitchers,” Savage said. “Charles has had clearly a rough start to the season, and I thought he showed his experience and his composure. I thought he got his confidence back today.”
UCLA will go for the sweep Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m.
