UCLA’s baseball record stands at 18-14. In light of last
year’s 15-41 record, it’s a fairly impressive feat. In
light of the spate of injuries they’ve sustained, it becomes
even more impressive.
With serious injuries to freshman star Tim Murphy, senior
infielder Sean Carpenter and junior closer Brant Rustich, the
Bruins have faced significant adversity in their attempt to bounce
back from last year’s tough season.
For the most part, they have shined. Since the loss of Murphy
and Carpenter on February 14, the Bruins have gone 16-9, which is
remarkable for them, since coach John Savage is not one to make
excuses.
“Everyone has injuries,” Savage said. “When it
happens, you’d better have people who can fill those roles.
If you know how to handle them, they can give a lot of guys good
experience.”
Redshirt junior Paul Oseguera, who has sustained injuries in his
time at UCLA, has been a linchpin for a bull pen that has had to
deal with the loss of its closer. Through 21 innings and 14
appearances, Oseguera has a 0.84 ERA, 24 strikeouts and two saves.
He and redshirt senior Josh Roenicke have taken over most of the
workload that had previously been delegated to Rustich, who
hasn’t played since a Tuesday-night game against Pepperdine
on February 21.
“We’ve had to close by committee,” Savage
said. “Oseguera is a great story. To be injured your whole
career and then come back and be a significant contributor is just
a great thing.”
Redshirt junior starter Hector Ambriz, meanwhile, has even been
forced to come out in relief since the injury to Rustich. He has
notched two saves, and on Sunday, he pitched in the eighth and
ninth innings to earn the save and win the series for the Bruins.
Savage, however, considers that an extreme situation and
doesn’t foresee it happening again.
“That’s a first for me,” Savage said.
“I’ve never pitched a Friday guy on a Sunday like that.
Our guys are in great shape, but it’s something I don’t
think we’ll do again unless it’s the last series of the
season and we need the win.”
With the injuries to the bull pen, the starters on the team have
been forced to shoulder much of the load all season. Only two
relievers on the team have pitched more than 10 innings, and
Saturday junior starter Dave Huff is averaging nearly eight innings
per game.
“We have been forced to go deeper into games a little
bit,” Sunday junior starter Tyson Brummett said. “We
just have to pick up the bull pen and help them out. But
Oseguera’s been good and some of the other guys have stepped
up big.”
Freshman infielder Jermaine Curtis also has been able to get
some more playing time because of the run of injuries. He has been
very effective, however, even he hasn’t been immune to
whatever has been plaguing the Bruins as he missed the Washington
series because of illness. On the season, he has a .271 average and
has scored 15 runs.
For the Bruins to continue their comeback season, they are going
to need more performances like Curtis’.