This is exactly what the Bruins didn’t want to have
happen.
Coming off the emotional high that was Sunday’s
come-from-behind 11-10 victory over Arizona State, the UCLA
baseball team (23-17) was brought back to earth by the UC Santa
Barbara Gauchos (17-20).
With six runs in the first three innings, the Gaucho bats
propelled their team to an 11-8 victory.
The Bruin pitching, which has been a strength so far this
season, was the sole weakness on a night where the hitting and
defense fueled a comeback that fell just short.
Junior starting pitcher Brian Schroeder was tagged for six
earned runs in only three innings. Seven different relievers could
not hold back the Gauchos, who hit three home runs in the game.
“This is disappointing. We had good defense, and we swung
the bats well. We just didn’t pitch. We walked a season-high
nine batters,” UCLA coach John Savage said.
“At the same time, we had a bunch of guys going out there
who haven’t been out there in a while. It was a tough task
for them.”
Schroeder (3-2), who did not pitch last Tuesday because of
illness, allowed six hits and one walk in his three innings.
Despite the marathon nature of Sunday’s five-hour,
10-inning game, Schroeder did not feel the team was fatigued at all
in the loss.
“(The Gauchos) were just hitting the ball,”
Schroeder said. “We were definitely ready to play today. Our
offense did a great job trying to get us back into it.”
The Bruin bats, who led the team to victory Sunday, were again
in evidence Tuesday night.
With only three runs through the first seven innings and down
9-3, the Bruins exploded for five runs in the eighth inning to pull
within one of the Gauchos.
Freshman catcher and pinch hitter Cody Decker provided a clutch
two-run hit for the second game in a row, but it was ultimately not
enough. The Gauchos scored two more runs in the top of the ninth to
seal the victory.
“It’s disappointing to have a loss like this after a
big weekend and us being ranked for the first time,” redshirt
senior right fielder Chris Jensen said. “But at the same
time, it’s not as big of a deal as losing to a Pac-10 school.
Santa Barbara played really well, and they have good hitters. You
have to give them credit for that.”
Both redshirt junior designated hitter Hector Ambriz and
freshman shortstop Brandon Crawford hit home runs as the Bruins
pounded out nine hits, four of which went for extra bases.
HUFF EARNS PAC-10 HONORS: Junior pitcher Dave Huff was named the
Pac-10 Conference Pitcher of the Week for April 18 to 24 on
Tuesday.
It is the first time in his career Huff has won the award. His
win over No. 16 Arizona State on Saturday was his second straight
complete-game win. Huff gave up one run on two hits with six
strikeouts and retired the final 22-of-23 Sun Devils he faced.