VIDEO: Steve Alford talks about UCLA’s 88-83 win over Cal Poly

UCLA earned its first win of the 2015-16 season on Sunday, fending off Cal Poly in an 88-83 decision. The Bruins saw a double-digit, second-half lead dwindle to nothing for the second straight game, but prevented a second straight upset after Friday’s ugly showing against Monmouth.

“We found a way to win,” said head coach Steve Alford. “Very happy with that.”

Bruins shake off Mustangs with 6-4 comeback victory

LOS ANGELES — A few days before the postseason, UCLA coach John Savage wondered how many fans would pack Jackie Robinson Stadium for the team’s fourth straight hosted regional. Despite two trips to Omaha in the last three seasons, Bruins baseball is hardly the campus’ hottest draw.

Some extra buzz couldn’t hurt.

On Saturday evening, the noise came. The Bruins kickstarted the crowd of 1,749 with an impressive turnaround, spoiling Cal Poly’s no-hit bid with a 6-4 win. UCLA advanced to Sunday’s 6 p.m. tilt against either the Mustangs or San Diego, needing just one more win to reach a Super Regional.

The transformation was palpable. After five feeble innings — no hits, one walk, a 4-0 deficit — the Bruins battered freshman lefty Matt Imhof and sent him to the dugout. First baseman Pat Gallagher led with a drought-ending double that pumped life into the stands, sparking applause and a “Let’s go, Bruins!” chant.

The flame, however small, was lit. UCLA kept stoking it: a single and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, a sac fly for the team’s first run.

The fire came soon. Right fielder Eric Filia singled up the middle to again put three Bruins on. Two at-bats later, Kevin Williams knocked the ball high into right field — a routine pop-up that turned into a base-clearing triple as right fielder Nick Torres lost it in the lights. Tie game. Continue reading “Bruins shake off Mustangs with 6-4 comeback victory” »

Plutko seizes postseason wins record, guides Bruins past Aztecs

LOS ANGELES — This wasn’t Adam Plutko at his sharpest.

A three-time all-conference selection, his best doesn’t include mishandling a bunt or hitting a batter on a 0-2 count. But the right-handed hurler never broke as he secured his fifth postseason win in a gutsy effort.

His solid, if unspectacular, outing Friday sufficed as he guided UCLA to a regional-opening 5-3 victory over San Diego State. The Bruins have now moved into the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament, with a 6 p.m. matchup against Cal Poly looming Saturday.

Along the way, Plutko became the school’s all-time postseason wins leader — passing former Golden Spikes winner and No. 3 draft pick Trevor Bauer. Continue reading “Plutko seizes postseason wins record, guides Bruins past Aztecs” »

UCLA draws in-state lineup to Los Angeles Regional

For the fourth straight year, the UCLA baseball team will host an NCAA regional.

The Bruins found out Monday morning they would begin play Friday against San Diego State. The early matchup bodes well for UCLA considering that the Aztecs (31-29, 15-15) made the 64-team postseason field only by winning the Mountain West Tournament. Cal Poly (39-17) and San Diego, which features Kris Bryant and his nation-leading 31 home runs, fill out the rest of the regional lineup.

Should UCLA advance, it could play Cal State Fullerton in the Super Regional. The Titans beat the Bruins 6-3 on May 15, and also won the College World Series in 2004.

All-session tickets ($40-80) can be purchased at UCLABruins.com, but single-game tickets ($8-15) won’t be available until Friday.