The UCLA baseball team is approaching its series this weekend at San Diego State as an opportunity to get back on track, especially at the plate.
The Bruins are coming off of a 4-2 loss to Long Beach State on Tuesday in which they were shut out until the ninth inning, and a weekend road trip against Mississippi in which they lost two of three.
UCLA’s lineup was expected to be one of its strengths this season but it has struggled lately, scoring only 12 runs in the last four games (five in the three losses).
“Right now it’s a lack of confidence,” sophomore Brandon Crawford said. “We’re thinking a little too much, trying not to get out instead of trying to just relax.”
Tuesday, UCLA (8-10) collected only six hits and one walk against No. 17 Long Beach, and only had two serious opportunities to score. Crawford’s run-scoring double in the ninth was the Bruins’ extra-base hit of the night. Crawford, who went 2-for-4, was the only Bruin with more than one hit on the night.
“We need guys to relax, see the ball, and hit the ball where it’s pitched. Just go back down to basics,” coach John Savage said. “Some guys are putting too much pressure on themselves. When they do that, it’s tough to perform against a good team. We scuffled at the plate.”
San Diego State (12-11) has also struggled lately, winning only one of its last four games.
“It’s a big series,” Savage said. “We need to go down there and establish ourselves again and play well. It’s going to be a very competitive series. We hope to rebound and start playing better baseball.”
The pitching for the Bruins has been effective recently.
Tuesday, freshman Garett Claypool pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in only his second career start. Claypool struck out five, did not issue a walk and allowed only three hits.
“He was throwing pitches that he wanted to throw where he wanted to throw when he wanted to throw them,” sophomore catcher Ryan Babineau said. “He was dominant. He pitched with a lot of confidence.”
Savage had only intended for Claypool to pitch four innings, but the freshman went into the sixth.
“He was pitching so well,” Savage said. “I probably should’ve taken him out after five. But when a guy is pretty much dominating, it’s tempting to run him back out there.”
Long Beach State scored all four of their runs in the eighth, an inning that UCLA nearly escaped without allowing any runs.
With two outs and runners on second and third, a weak infield dribbler got by third baseman Eddie Murray and by the time Crawford, the shortstop, made a play on it, the runners were all safe.
Pitcher Matthew Drummond then threw a wild pitch and gave up a home run to Jason Corder before getting out of the inning.
“That’s just how it’s going right now,” Savage said. “(Drummond) made a big pitch. It’s a 2-and-2 count. We throw the ball where we want and it’s a dribbler that gets past the third baseman and you got your run. That’s just baseball, and you’ve got to deal with that as a player as well as a manager. That’s where we are right now.”
BREWER’S BACK: Savage said that freshman pitcher Charles Brewer has been medically cleared to play this weekend against San Diego State. Brewer, who has missed all of the season so far, was expected to be the Bruins’ Saturday starter.