Sophomore outfielder Josh Roenicke came into Tuesday’s
game at Cal State Fullerton as a defensive replacement, but it was
his bat that won the game for the Bruins.
Roenicke’s 12th-inning single with the bases loaded scored
junior shortstop Ryan McCarthy to take a 5-4 lead that UCLA (21-16)
would not relinquish.
“I just wanted a hittable pitch; I like the fastball and I
got one,” Roenicke said.
Despite his entrance into the game as a defensive replacement,
UCLA head coach Gary Adams felt confident Roenicke could get the
hit that would slay the Titans (23-17).
“He’s been swinging the bat pretty good lately, so I
did not feel that I had to pinch-hit for him just because,”
Adams said.
Freshman reliever Kevin Brophy, the eighth UCLA pitcher of the
game, was stellar, pitching 2 and 2/3 of scoreless relief to
collect his fifth win of the year.
“That guy has just been a savior for us. He’s as
cool as a cucumber out there. He has tremendous poise,” Adams
said.
Brophy deferred credit for his win to the rest of the pitching
staff.
“Half of it is luck and half of it is the pitching staff
throwing well,” Brophy said
But before Roenicke’s and Brophy’s heroics, wasted
opportunities to score haunted the Bruins in two key instances.
In the eighth inning with the score tied at four, junior left
fielder Matt Thayer reached base on a single. Two wild pitches by
Titans reliever Clark Hardman put Thayer on third base with no
outs.
But the Bruins could not capitalize on that chance. Senior third
baseman Preston Griffin struck out, right fielder Roenicke grounded
out to shortstop, and sophomore pinch-hitter Chris Denove popped
out to second base.
The top of the 10th inning brought a similar situation and a
similar result.
Junior shortstop McCarthy doubled down the left field line to
lead off the inning. A passed ball by Fullerton catcher P.J.
Pilittere put McCarthy on third with no outs, the same situation as
the eighth inning. And just as in the eighth inning, the Bruins
offense was unable to come through.
Junior first baseman Wes Whisler struck out, looking to give the
Titans a big first out. Then, Thayer grounded to Fullerton third
baseman Neil Walton, who threw home where Pilittere was waiting to
tag McCarthy for the second out which ended the threat.