After weeks of wandering the desert of a 19-game losing streak,
the UCLA baseball team snapped the drought with a 9-8 victory over
UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night. But the joy proved to be
shortlived, sandwiched in-between two other losses to the Gauchos
(19-18) in what the team treated as another disappointing weekend.
“I’m very disappointed,” coach John Savage said.
“We just didn’t get it done to win the series.”
Even in their one victory, the Bruins were sorely tested. Leading
7-1 in the sixth inning, the Bruins almost collapsed while the
Gauchos made a furious comeback, highlighted by an inside-the-park
home run. Still, Brian Schroeder threw an inning of scoreless
relief to ensure the Bruins held on for their first win since Feb.
25. “It was certainly important to get back on the winning
ways,” Savage said. “We need to be able to play nine
full innings. To win at this point, we need everything ““ we
need to pitch well, play good defense and have clutch
hitting.” Chris Jensen, a redshirt junior, led the Bruins to
the victory on Saturday, knocking in four runs off of a career high
four hits. Jensen, who hit a three-run home run, has been hurt
nearly all season with a hamstring injury and has had to sit and
watch as his teammates struggled futilely to end the losing streak.
During the 19 straight losses, the Bruins averaged about three runs
a game. “It was very frustrating,” Jensen said.
“It was a lot of fun to be back out there and helping. But
it’s not just one guy. Everyone contributed.” “It
was just great to have him back,” Savage added. “We got
the streak behind us, and hopefully we can move forward and win
some series.” It’s a step the Bruins were hoping to
take on Sunday. However, their ninth inning rally came up short in
the series’ rubber game as UCLA fell 4-3. After Will Penniall
was hit by a pitch, the Bruins loaded the bases with no outs in the
top of the ninth. However, they were only able to punch two runs
across, stranding the tying run at second base to end the game.
UNDER PROTEST: Friday’s game, a 9-4 Santa Barbara victory,
was played under official protest by the Bruins due to a supposedly
botched interference call. UCLA second baseman Sean Carpenter was
bumped by Gaucho baserunner Matt Kalafatis, who was going from
first to second on a ground ball. Instead of turning a double play,
Carpenter could only get the out at first. The umpires called no
interference. The Gauchos would tack on four runs in that inning to
give them the decisive lead.