UCLA drops heartbreaker to ASU
Baseball takes Sun Devils two of three, but post season chances
low
By Ross Bersot
The old adage, two out of three isn’t bad, may have meant
something to the UCLA baseball team earlier this season.
Not now. Not when the playoffs are on the line.
A three-game sweep of Arizona State (33-19 overall, 13-14
Six-Pac) this weekend in Jackie Robinson Stadium would have all but
guaranteed the Bruins a berth in the NCAA Regional Playoffs. After
winning the first two games against the Sun Devils, UCLA (25-22,
12-15) carried a 7-6 advantage into the ninth inning of Sunday’s
finale, seemingly on the way to the crucial third-straight win.
Instead, ASU scored on a rare error by UCLA second baseman Gar
Vallone to send the game into extra innings, where the visitor
eventually prevailed 8-7.
After the Sun Devils scored in the top of the first, the Bruins
evened the score in the bottom of the inning with a two-out bomb by
Tim DeCinces. His team-leading 11th home run of the year tied the
game 1-1.
After two quick outs to begin the bottom of the second, the home
team scored two runs to take its first lead, 3-1. Zak Ammirato
reached first on a sharp shot up the middle, bringing up leadoff
man Mike Seal.
Following Seal’s single, designated hitter Chad Matoian popped
up along the third-base line. What should have been an easy play
for any of three Sun Devil infielders was muffed by first baseman
Darren Troilo. In addition to allowing Matoian to reach base
safely, Troilo’s error scored Ammirato and advanced Seal.
Another ASU miscue, a wild pitch by Kaipo Spenser gave Seal room
to score from third.
Trying to make up for the two unearned runs given up in the
second, the visitors scored one run apiece in the fourth and fifth
innings to even the score 3-3.
Thanks to an error by Mikel Moreno in centerfield on a Troy
Glaus line drive, UCLA loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom
of the fifth. Sacrifices by Vallone and Jon Heinrichs scored Pete
Zamora, who had walked, and Byrnes, who had singled. Glaus crossed
the plate on another Spenser wild pitch to put the Bruins up 6-3,
which is the way the inning ended.
Once again ASU matched the home team, this time with a three-run
outburst in the seventh. A two-run single to center by Matt Frick
scored Travis Flowers and Cody McKay. Frick was waved in on a Jake
Steinkemper stand-up double, tying the game 6-6.
UCLA’s final run came on Heinrichs’ second sacrifice fly of the
game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Zamora, who had reached
on a single to center.
Leading 7-6 in the top of the ninth, the Bruins only needed
three more outs to complete the sweep. Zamora moved to the mound
from first base after Michael Caravelli walked Kent to begin the
inning.
Flowers advanced Robbie Kent on a bunt but was put out at first
for the first out. Zamora got McKay to hit a chopper straight to
Vallone, who misplayed the ball on a hop, allowing Kent to score,
tying the game 7-7. Zamora retired the next two batters to end the
inning.
"It was a big hop and (McKay) is a pretty decent runner,"
Vallone said. "I was worried more about the throw than catching the
ball.
"It’s the worst time in the world to do it. I’m a senior on the
team and the out is a routine ground ball. We needed this game to
go to regionals and I just didn’t get it done."
Neither team was able to score another run until the Sun Devils
notched the go-ahead run in top of the 11th on a McKay RBI line
drive to center. A hard shot by Vallone in the bottom of that
inning seemed to be on its way through the gap into left field
until somehow in a diving stab ASU third baseman McKay caught the
ball for the second out. McKay’s catch caught Glaus in the middle
of first and second, creating an easy double play to end the game
8-7.
Neither starter factored in the decision as Ryan Bradley (5-2),
on the mound for the last three innings got the win and Ryan Lynch
(2-3), took the loss in two innings of relief.
"It’s tough. The guys gave tremendous effort. No question about
that," Adams said. "Our guys really battled. Both teams had their
chances, we just couldn’t hold them there at the end."
A loss in the third game was like swallowing Castor Oil for the
Bruins, considering the previous two victories. On Friday, UCLA
dominated the Sun Devils 7-3. Rick Heineman (6-4, 4.50 ERA) tabbed
the win, while Billy Neal (5-7) suffered the loss.
Saturday saw the home team crawl back from a 6-0 deficit to
triumph 8-7. Nick St. George (4-1, 4.85) picked up the win in
relief for the Bruins. Chad Day (1-1), who worked the final four
and two-thirds innings of the game dropped his first decision of
the season for ASU.