Friday, April 12, 1996
By Brian Purcell
and Yoni Tamler
Daily Bruin Staff
The No. 10 UCLA baseball team has won at least two games in all
but one conference series this season. The Bruins’ only mishap in
the Six-Pac came last month at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats,
who, coincidentally, hadn’t won a series prior and haven’t won one
since.
But since taking two out of three from the Bruins in Tucson, the
Wildcats (20-23 overall, 4-14 Six-Pac) have lost 11 out of their
last 12 games in league, and are blazing a trail toward their third
consecutive last-place finish in the conference.
UCLA’s (23-13, 13-5) losses in Tucson notwithstanding, the
Bruins can find comfort in last year’s series with Arizona at
Jackie Robinson Stadium, when they swept the Wildcats.
And for that sweep, the Bruins can thank pitcher/first baseman
Pete Zamora. In Saturday’s victory, Zamora, then a true freshman,
hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to give
UCLA an 8-6 victory. Zamora outdid himself the following day, when
he homered in the game-winning run and was also the winning pitcher
in relief.
"We just happened to be playing U of A when I got hot last
year," Zamora said. "I got up in some pressure situations, which
are my favorite times to be up."
With his back bothering him all season long, last year’s
All-Pacific 10 Conference first team selection has struggled at the
plate, batting .226 with one home run and 17 RBIs. On the other
hand, Zamora has gone 5-0 as a starter this year.
Nevertheless, Zamora contends that his back has given him
problems in both parts of his game.
"This week was the first time since the first two games of the
season that I’ve felt good swinging the bat," Zamora said. "I
haven’t been able to go as long as I’ve wanted to (on the mound)
either, but now I think I can."
The Bruins will throw Jim Parque (7-0, 3.38 ERA) against fellow
left-hander Shawn Barrington (1-5, 7.10) in tonight’s 7 p.m. game
at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Saturday’s game, a 1 p.m. contest, pits
right-handers Rick Heineman (1-3, 3.64) and Arizona’s Darrell
Hussman (2-2, 5.40) against one another. Tyler Haddix (4-4, 4.73)
will oppose Zamora in Sunday’s 1 p.m. series finale.