Ten days into the season, Fresno State comes into Westwood to
take on the UCLA baseball team and its perfect record.
Of course, at 1-0, the Bruins’ perfect record is less
noteworthy than the “perfect” label suggests.
Still, the Bruins have to be encouraged by their win over a
respected UC Riverside squad and eager to bring on some more
action.
That action is coming in a big way as UCLA closes out the last
17 days of February with 12 games, beginning at 5 p.m. today
against the Bulldogs (2-2) and continuing with two more games
against them Saturday and Sunday.
Fresno State was picked to finish second in the Western Athletic
Conference and features a strong middle infield of Chris Patrick
and Ryan Haag, who were first and second team all-WAC,
respectively. Their No. 1 starter, David Griffin, is coming off of
a remarkable outing last Friday against No. 4 Stanford, in which he
only allowed two hits and no earned runs in seven and two-thirds
innings.
Thirty years ago, in head coach Gary Adams’ first games
with the Bruins, UCLA swept Fresno State. But the two schools have
not met since 1986, and Fresno State has not been to Westwood since
1976.
“It’s been a long time,” Adams said.
“Fresno State has a great tradition in baseball. (The team
relies) on some experienced players, and also (its) 2003 recruiting
class was ranked No. 16 in the country. We’re dealing with a
good ball club, no question about it.”
The Bruins will start senior Casey Janssen on Friday, sophomore
Hector Ambriz on Saturday and junior Bryan Beck on Sunday. The
Bulldogs counter with the lefty Griffin and two right-handers
““ Matt Scott and Michael Cooper.
One of UCLA’s usual weekend starters, Wes Whisler, will
play first base but not his customary role in the rotation.
“Wes had hurt himself lifting and was only just able to
get on the mound since Jan. 26,” Adams said. “Since he
just got back on the mound, we feel it is too quick to bring him
back to a starter’s role.”