EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — UCLA scored four runs in the first inning and relied on a patchwork bullpen to hold off Michigan State 4-3 on Saturday afternoon, extending the Bruins’ winning streak to two games in the Big Ten series.

The Bruins, who improved to 42-4 overall and 16-27 against the Spartans, sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first. Reese West doubled down the right-field line and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Roch Cholowsky. A walk to Kai Levu loaded the bases before Jack Brennan singled up the middle, driving in West and Cholowsky, and moved to second on the throw. After a strikeout, Cashel Dugger singled up the middle to score Brennan and Levu, giving UCLA a 4-0 lead. The inning ended when AJ Cadiz walked and Aiden Aguayo flied out to center.

Michigan State answered in the bottom of the second. With two outs, a walk to Jacob Deckinga and a groundout moved him to second, and Parker Picot doubled down the left-field line to bring in Deckinga, cutting the lead to 4-1. A walk and a wild pitch put runners at second and third, but a groundout ended the threat.

UCLA’s starter Michael Barnett worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on zero hits — a quirk of the box score — while striking out one. He walked four and benefited from two caught-stealing and a double play. The Spartans manufactured another run in the fifth. A bunt single by Jack Sturgess, a walk to Jack Bright, and a single by Ryan Thomas loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Deckinga walked to force in Sturgess, making it 4-2. Elai Iwanaga relieved Barnett and got a groundout to end the inning.

UCLA’s offense went quiet after the first, managing only five hits the rest of the way. The Bruins grounded into two double plays, including one in the sixth that erased a leadoff walk by Dugger. Dugger finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a walk.

The Spartans narrowed the gap in the eighth. Cal Randall relieved Justin Lee and immediately allowed a hit-by-pitch to Picot, a single by Ethan Will, and a wild pitch that put runners at second and third. A groundout by Connor Murphy scored Picot, making it 4-3. Easton Hawk entered and retired two batters to escape the inning.

Neither team scored in the ninth. Hawk worked a 1-2-3 frame with a strikeout, and closer Angel Cervantes — who had pitched a perfect seventh — did not need to return. The game ended with a strikeout of Luke Seymour.

Michigan State fell to 16-27. Logan Pikur tossed four innings of relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts. The Spartans managed eight hits but stranded six runners.

UCLA’s bullpen combined for 4 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. Hawk, Iwanaga, Cervantes, and Justin Lee each threw scoreless innings.

The win follows UCLA’s 4-1 victory in Friday’s series opener. The teams conclude the three-game set on Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of UCLA 8, Michigan State 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave UCLA a 78.50 percent probability to win.