Seemingly stripped of all positive momentum forged in last
weekend’s stunning victories over defending champion No. 9
Texas and No. 23 Tulane, the UCLA baseball team was demolished 9-0
Tuesday at Loyola Marymount.
Not surprising was the lack of offense, a problem which has
plagued the Bruins (10-11) numerous times this season. UCLA only
managed four singles, one walk, and struck out eight times in
transforming Loyola No. 4 starter Kyle Huddy into an ace for the
day.
“We gave them too many easy outs,” head coach Gary
Adams said. “We had too many strikeouts, popouts and lazy
flyballs and didn’t give the defense anything to
do.”
The mostly solid pitching staff also had an off-day in
surrendering nine runs and a season-high 16 hits.
After slaying two giants last weekend, UCLA lost to a hot Lions
team (9-5, 7-1 at home) that beat the Bruins on both sides of the
ball.
Loyola first scored in the second inning, and that run proved to
be all that was necessary. However, the game was officially broken
open in the sixth when LMU reached UCLA freshman starter Hector
Ambriz (0-4) for four runs after he had done well in keeping the
game close through five. This was the second game in a row that a
solid effort by Ambriz has been victimized by a lack of offensive
backing.
“They pitched their fourth-best pitcher and we’re
going to see guys like that in the Pac-10 all year,” Adams
said. “We didn’t even give ourselves a chance to get at
their fifth, sixth or seventh pitchers.”
With No. 18 USC’s strong pitching staff looming next
weekend, the offense will definitely need to reevaluate its
approach.
“We’ve got to get into people’s bullpens.
We’ve got to make starters throw more pitches and
battle,” Adams said. “This team needs to make
adjustments to become a more consistent offense.”
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Senior Mike Kunes was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week for his
stellar two-run, seven inning outing against Texas. The 3-1
left-hander will get the ball in Friday’s series opener
against USC.