May 26, 2012

Box Score

WESTWOOD, Calif. - UCLA's Beau Amaral delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the second to give the No. 9 Bruins a lead they would relinquish as the defeated the Trojans 3-1Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium before a crowd of 1,351.

UCLA improves to 40-14 (18-10 Pac-12) while USC falls to 23-30 (8-20 Pac-12) on the season.

Adam Pluto (9-3) held the Trojans to one run and four hits in six innings as he picked up his fourth consecutive win.

The Bruins capitalized on two walks in the second by starter Ben Mount that loaded the bases Amaral's timely single to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Andres Rodriguez and Kevin Roundtree led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Garret Houts then scored Rodriguez with a well-placed sacrifice bunt to the right of the mound to cut the lead to 2-1.

Mount, a senior making his final start as a Trojan, settled in nicely tossing six solid innings and allowing three runs on five hits but was tagged with the loss falling to 1-8 on the season. He would depart in the seventh after a leadoff walk and was replaced by James Guillen. His first batter, Cody Keefer, lined to right to score Amaral and stretch the lead to 3-1.

USC was held scoreless through the final six innings by Plutko, David Berg, Ryan Deeter and Scott Griggs. Griggs picked up his 15th save of the season after working the ninth inning.

USC's Guillen and Brett Williams combined for three scoreless innings of relief against a potent Bruin lineup.

Roundtree and Brandon Garcia each had two hits for the Trojans in an otherwise quiet night for USC's bats.