LOS ANGELES — The second road trip of the season continued on Saturday afternoon as the Gaels and No. 10 UCLA Bruins were able to dodge rain and get in game two of the three-game series. For Saint Mary's, the key was being able to get some type of offensive rhythm going against a stout Bruins pitching staff. After being blanked in the opener, the Gaels got on the board first Saturday, but couldn't generate enough to get around the Bruins in a 7-1 final. Saint Mary's is now 2-4 while the Bruins are 6-0.
 
GOOD MOVE, GIO
 
All season long, the Gaels have batted second baseman Gio Diaz in the leadoff spot, and it has paid dividends to the tune of 11 hits in the first five games of the season. Saturday, head coach Greg Moore moved Diaz to the third spot in the order, sliding up Jacob Talamante and Ryan Novis into the first two spots. In the third, this worked our perfectly as Talamante and Novis worked two out walks ahead of Diaz, who smacked a single to left field to give the Gaels their first run of the series, taking a 1-0 lead.
 
BIG INNINGS
 
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Bruins were able to flex their muscles against the Gaels pitching staff. Senior left-hander Ty Madrigal was solid through the first three but could not escape the fourth, as he allowed the first four runners to reach base in the fourth, including three free passes. Liam Steigerwald was summoned from the bullpen and allowed a pair of singles that plated three more runs, and suddenly the Bruins held a 5-1 edge. They added on two more in the bottom of the fifth when Pat Caulfield blasted a home run to left field, capping off the game's scoring at 7-1.
 
SOLID CC's
 
Saint Mary's did receive three scoreless innings of relief from a pair of pitchers who figure to play a big role in the bullpen this season. Christopher Campos, the team's usual third baseman, tossed a pair of scoreless innings in a bit of a "return to home" for the native of Hacienda Heights. Clark Candiotti followed Campos by pitching a clean eighth inning on just four pitches, his second effective outing in his young collegiate career.
 
UP NEXT
 
The series concludes on Sunday afternoon as the Gaels and Bruins take the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium with first pitch at 1:00 pm. Dalton Ponce gets his second collegiate start after a no decision in his first at Sam Houston State. He will be opposed by Jesse Bergin for the Bruins, who struck out nine in his first start against UC Riverside.
 
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