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SAN DIEGO — It was not a crack but instead a ping of the bat that rang in the first set of games ever played at the San Diego Padres’ cozy new home, PETCO Park.

UCLA’s baseball team played at the San Diego State Aztec Invitational in the inaugural games Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the park.

The Bruins (12-8) captured one victory in three games – losing 3-0 to No. 9 Long Beach State, defeating Nebraska 4-2, and losing to Houston 7-6.

In the Bruins’ first game, hard-throwing left-hander Wes Whisler was pitted against LBSU’s Jared Weaver, one of the best pitchers in the country.

“Weaver is a polished pitcher. He is a competitor,” UCLA coach Gary Adams said. “I could see how he could be the No. 1 pick in the nation.”

The performance of the Long Beach Dirtbags’ (13-4) Weaver was characteristic of his reputation.

Weaver allowed only one hit and one walk in eight innings. The righty struck out 15 players, tying his career high.

“He did a great job tonight (in) keeping us off-balance,” shortstop Ryan McCarthy said.

Bruin ace Casey Janssen started Saturday afternoon’s meeting with the Nebraska Huskers (7-4) and pitched a gem, allowing only four hits and two runs in eight and two-thirds innings of work. He improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his opponents’ batting average to .149.

“I was looking forward to pitching in this stadium the whole year,” Janssen said. “I was a bit nervous going into the game, but it finally clicked, and I started pitching well.”

“Today, Casey was Jared Weaver,” Adams said.

The Bruin offense gave Janssen ample run support. UCLA was the first on the board, notching a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

Left fielder Matt Thayer led off the inning by playing croquet using Nebraska’s Alex Gordon as a wicket. A scorching grounder off Thayer’s bat skipped between Gordon’s legs, placing Thayer on first. Thayer then advanced to second on a McCarthy single and crossed the plate on an RBI single by catcher Chris Denove.

Thayer and McCarthy both scored again in the sixth inning. After a leadoff single by Thayer, McCarthy teed off, hitting a two-run round-tripper to left field, giving UCLA a 4-0 lead.

The third and final game was a sun-drenched afternoon shootout between UCLA and Houston (6-12).

Houston took an early lead, scoring six runs in the first four innings. UCLA’s offense, on the other hand, was relatively stagnant until late in the game. Down 6-2 in the top of the eighth, the bottom of the Bruins’ order loaded the bases with no outs. A Preston Griffin single brought in two runs, and after a sacrifice bunt, designated hitter Brett McMillan’s sacrifice fly brought UCLA to within a single run.

The next batter, Whisler, belted a two-out double down the right field line that scored Griffin and tied the game at 6-6.

The comeback, though, was in vain. In the bottom of the ninth, UCLA reliever Kyle Wilson walked Houston’s Kevin Roberts on a full count, with bases loaded and two outs, to drive in the winning run.

The Cougars won the game 7-6.

The Bruins next face Loyola Marymount (11-7) at Jackßie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday.