Maybe they should play all their games in a hostile environment.
It seems to be working well.
In a setting that seemed to be a home away from home for Ole
Miss, the UCLA baseball team was able to win two out of three games
at Jackie Robinson Stadium over the weekend in front of a
surprisingly segregated crowd of Bruin and Rebel fans. The loud,
hostile atmosphere was reminiscent of the Bruins’ recent road
series against NC State, where the Bruins swept the series.
“It really was like a road series,” freshman catcher
Ryan Babineau said. “There were heckles and taunts, but it
was fine. In a situation like that, they’re just here to
support their team. It helps to bring you to a different level of
concentration when you’re playing.”
The Rebels’ (10-6) fans were raucous throughout the
series, but the Bruins (11-11) let their play speak for itself. The
Bruins split the first two games with the Rebels and then won the
rubber match on Sunday 6-4 behind a strong pitching performance
from junior starter Tyson Brummett.
“I felt pretty good about how I pitched,” Brummett
said. “I started kind of rough, and I didn’t pitch
quite as well as I’d like, but we got the win.”
Brummett went seven innings, giving up three runs and striking
out seven batters. After Brummett rendered three early runs, he
settled down to pitch four scoreless innings before being removed
from the game.
On Friday, redshirt junior starter Hector Ambriz threw eight
innings of one run ball with a season high 10 strikeouts in a 9-2
Bruin win. On Saturday, junior starting pitcher David Huff had
protected a 5-2 lead when he was taken out in the ninth, but was
ultimately charged with five runs in 7 2/3 innings of work as the
Rebels went on to a 6-5 comeback win.
“We feel very good about how we played this
weekend,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “We got quality
start after quality start. To be able to come back (on Sunday) and
win after giving up a late lead on Saturday shows a lot of
character, especially against a top-level team.”
The Bruin offense, which had been stagnant prior to last
weekend’s surge against NC State, has continued its high
level of play. Pounding out 19 runs on the weekend, the Bruins were
led by Babineau, who batted .500 on the weekend with five hits and
four RBIs.
His two-run home run on Sunday proved to be the difference.
Babineau, who was struggling at the plate prior to this series, has
now raised his average to an unflattering .219.
“It was nice getting a few hits,” Babineau said.
“I just tried to work hard and persevere and it’s
paying off. It was a good all-around weekend for the team.
We’re playing really well right now.”