In the UCLA baseball team’s most clutch performance of the
year, the Bruins took two of three at No. 14 Washington and almost
assured themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“To pick up two out of three was so pivotal because of the
timing coming at the end of the season,” coach Gary Adams
said.
After splitting Friday and Saturday’s contests, the Bruins
(31-26, 12-9 Pac-10) flexed their power in taking the rubber
match.
After jumping to a quick 1-0 lead on centerfielder Jarrad
Page’s RBI fielder’s choice in the second, shortstop
Ryan McCarthy and first baseman Brandon Averill hit dual solo
homers in the third and fifth innings, respectively, to send a 3-3
game into the late innings.
McCarthy then came up in the eighth and hit likely the biggest
home run of his Bruin career.
“The pitcher who came in was a soft-throwing lefty,”
McCarthy said. “He had pitched Friday against us, and I knew
his tendency was to go away, so I moved as close to the plate as
possible … and he tried to throw a changeup and left it right
over the plate.”
The solo shot sent UCLA home with a 4-3 triumph, which McCarthy
called “probably the biggest win of the season.”
UCLA entered Washington (34-18-1, 15-9) looking for a series
win, but first it primarily had to make certain it didn’t get
swept by the conference’s hottest team.
Friday, Casey Janssen made sure that wouldn’t happen as he
came through with his biggest performance of the year to give the
Bruins a 3-1 victory. Janssen tossed the first complete game of his
career, allowing six hits and a lone first-inning run for his
team-leading ninth win.
“I knew I needed to step up,” he said. “I
hadn’t been pitching my best lately, and I knew had to get
back to what I could do.”
“That’s one of the best games I’ve seen a UCLA
pitcher pitch,” Adams added.
Two of the Bruins’ three runs came in the third on a Husky
throwing error and a bases loaded walk, with three singles
sprinkled in between.
Catcher Chris Denove provided an insurance run with a leadoff
homer in the sixth, his seventh of the year.
Saturday, the Bruins fell behind quickly to Huskies’ ace
Tim Lincecum, and Washington hit three homers off of UCLA starter
David Johnson and reliever Kevin Brophy en route to a 7-2 loss.
Still, the Bruins must come away with nothing but a positive
feeling of the weekend.
“Even winning two out of three, I know the chances are
pretty good if not 100 percent (to make the playoffs),”
McCarthy said.