The crosstown rivalry will be renewed this weekend as
UCLA’s baseball team travels to USC’s Dedeaux Field in
a match-up between two teams in vastly different situations.
After missing the postseason a year ago, the Trojans are 18-9
this season, having won nine of their past 12 games.
Meanwhile, the Bruins, who reached the postseason last season,
have lost their last 14 games and currently sit at 7-18, 0-3 in the
Pac-10.
Last year, the Bruins took two out of three from USC in their
season series, including a five-run comeback in the bottom of the
ninth in the rubber game to win 13-12.
This year, a win of any kind for the Bruins would be welcome and
first-year UCLA coach John Savage is optimistic that the
team’s play has improved enough of late to finally break the
school’s record losing streak.
“It’s all about defense and pitching and then
getting some key base hits, and we feel we are close,” Savage
said after Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to No. 13 Long Beach
State.
That loss to the Dirtbags was probably the best game UCLA played
since it last won a game in late February.
The Bruins did not commit an error in that game and pitched
well, but they could not produce late in the game with runners on
base.
Long Beach State won on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the
ninth inning.
Things won’t necessarily be easier for the Bruins against
the Trojans, who have been equally effective with their bats and
arms.
Junior catcher Jeff Clement, considered one of the top players
in the conference, is batting a team-leading .367 and also leads
the team in home runs and RBI.
Furthermore, Ian Kennedy, who is slated to be the Friday starter
for USC, is second on the team with a 3.57 ERA and boasts a
team-high 62 strikeouts in only 42 2/3 innings.
“Kennedy is a premier pitcher and Clement is a catcher who
puts up big offensive numbers,” Savage said.
“We have to make sure that we control their impact on the
game.”
But Savage also made the point that because every team in the
Pac-10 is tough, UCLA must primarily concentrate on itself.
“Everybody is good in the Pac-10 ““ you have to take
care of your parts of the game,” Savage said. “No
matter who we play, we still have to defend and pitch and
hit,” he added.