Kingham, veterans lead Baseball past UCLA, 3-2

Friday, June 2

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

University of Texas

38-22

UCLA

30-26

UCLA

Texas

06.02.2017 | Baseball

Box Score

No. 2 seed Texas took down No. 3 seed UCLA in game one of the Long Beach Regional

Box Score | Press Conference

LONG BEACH, Calif.—No. 2 seed Texas Baseball rode a dominant performance from right-hander Nolan Kingham and clutch performances from veteran hitters to a 3-2 win over No. 3 seed UCLA in game one of the Long Beach Regional on Friday evening at Blair Field.

The game one matchup turned out to be a pitchers' duel. The Longhorns (38-22) were held without a hit off UCLA's ace, Griffin Canning, through 3.2 innings of work but senior Kacy Clemens came through for Texas. With two away in the fourth, Clemens launched a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall to give Texas a 1-0 advantage over the Bruins.

On the mound, Kingham (10-4) dominated for the Longhorns to earn his 10th win of the year. The right-hander faced the minimum through three innings and allowed just three hits through five. Kingham worked out of a jam in the seventh as well before his offense could add an insurance run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Travis Jones reached as the leadoff batter. With one out, the junior swiped his 14th base of the season and moved to third when the throw went off his helmet. After a popup put two away in the inning, redshirt-junior Bret Boswell drove a single to left field to plate Jones and put the Longhorns up 2-0 after seven full.

UCLA (30-26) finally got to Kingham in the eighth when the first pitch of the inning sailed over the left field wall to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Kingham then retired the next two before a double ended his night. Right-hander Beau Ridgeway entered in relief and struck out the Bruins' leading hitter to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Longhorns put together a two-out rally to extend their lead. Patrick Mathis drew a full count walk and Zane Gurwitz followed with a single through the right side. With runners on first and second, Jones ripped the first pitch he saw to right field for a double, putting Texas up 3-1.

That insurance run would prove important for the Longhorns as UCLA got one back in the ninth, but Ridgeway shut the door for his 12th save of the season.

Texas will now face off against the winner of host Long Beach State and fourth-seeded San Diego State at 9 p.m. CT on Saturday at Blair Field.