Despite a sixteen-day break between games, the UCLA baseball
team’s fortunes remained the same.
After losing nine straight heading into time off for finals, the
Bruins returned to action last Tuesday, falling to defending
national champion No. 2 Cal State Fullerton and prolonged their
struggles by getting swept over the weekend by No. 10 Arizona.
“That sixteen day break is not how you draw it up,”
coach John Savage said. “We felt like we were starting all
over again.”
The Bruins (7-17, 0-3 Pac-10) have now lost 13 in a row, a new
UCLA record. The previous longest losing streak was eleven games in
1974.
UCLA’s struggles were heightened by a strong Arizona team
(21-10, 5-1), the Pac-10’s top-ranked team.
With the Pac-10’s highest batting average and slugging
percentage, the Wildcats showcased how they’ve gained a
reputation as an offensive juggernaut. While Arizona piled up 31
total runs over three games, the Wildcat pitching also did the
Bruins in.
UCLA fared well against Arizona’s top pitcher, John
Meloan, on Friday, collecting four runs and nine hits over 4-2/3
innings. Sophomore shortstop Tommy Lansdon got the Bruins off to an
early lead with a second inning solo homer.
But the Wildcats’ bullpen shut the door from there and
slugger Jordan Brown’s seventh inning grand slam off of
senior starter Bryan Beck broke open a 4-4 tie to give Arizona the
8-4 win.
That grand slam also marked the last point in the series when
the games were competitive.
“We’re good at the beginning of games, and then we
lose momentum,” junior catcher and co-captain Chris Denove
said.
Saturday, the Wildcats’ Kevin Guyette tossed a one-hit
complete game, striking out eleven and out-dueling sophomore Hector
Ambriz. Besides Lansdon’s second inning single up the middle,
the Bruins rarely sent a ball out of the infield and suffered their
most lopsided loss of the year ““ 11-0.
Sunday was a similar story. The Wildcats kept piling runs on and
five UCLA pitchers could not stop the bleeding. The UCLA bats did
manage a few early threats, but could only manage minimal
damage.
“We really struggled with our offensive approach,”
Denove said.
The Bruins will go back to the drawing board and quickly try to
rediscover a winning formula to halt the record streak before it
extends any further.
“No one is giving up here,” Savage said.
“It’s a tough time right now, and things will
definitely get better.”