LOS ANGELES — The fourth-ranked UCLA baseball team earned at least a share of the Pac-12 Conference title as the Bruins polished off a three-game sweep of Arizona with a 5-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Trailing for the first time in the series, UCLA erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run fifth inning and then relied on sturdy bullpen to shut down the Wildcats the rest of the way.
Arizona starting pitcher Bobby Dalbec was strong over the first four innings, allowing just one hit. But he ran into trouble in the fifth inning as the Bruins sent nine men to the plate.
Trent Chatterton’s leadoff single sparked the decisive fifth frame. Justin Hazard’s bunt single was then misplayed by the Wildcats, advancing both runners into scoring position before Brett Stephens roped a game-tying single to center.
Later, Chris Keck’s bases-loaded single pushed home two more runs, and that was all the offense the Bruins needed.
Even so, Kevin Kramer’s two-out RBI doubled added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
Four relievers combined to limit the Wildcats to one run over the last 4 1/3 innings. Cody Poteet (5-1) replaced starter Hunter Virant with one down in the fifth, earning the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Berg earned his 12th save of the season with 1 2/3 scoreless innings to finish out the game.
Virant did not factor into the decision, tossing 4 2/3 innings with two runs allowed. He surrendered three hits, a walk and struck out one.
Arizona (28-23, 12-18 Pac-12) struck for a run in the first inning when Kevin Newman doubled and moved to third on Riley Moore’s single. Dalbec then lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the Wildcats’ first run of the series.
The Wildcats added to their lead with another lone run in the fourth. Tyler Krause hit a one-out double, then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. JJ Matijevic’s ground out drove in the second run.
Dalbec (2-7) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The righty struck out five and walked two.
The Wildcats briefly threatened in the eighth inning, but Berg put an end to those thoughts.
Dalbec doubled home a run off Grant Dyer, prompting the pitching change. Berg entered with the tying run at the plate, but quickly struck out Krause and then coaxed Matijevic into a ground out.
