As the UCLA baseball team retreated after yet another disappointing loss, their sense of frustration was evident.
Frustration at the inability to maintain offensive production.
Frustration at the failure to capitalize on run-scoring opportunities.
Frustration at another shaky Tuesday outing by a starter and a devastating home run from their opponent.
The latest disheartening loss came on Tuesday against No. 8 San Diego (38-13, 15-3 WCC), a 5-3 defeat in a season that is coming closer and closer to its end.
The Bruins (24-21, 7-8 Pac-10) scored three runs in the first inning, but were silent the rest of the night.
“(We) had some opportunities and didn’t cash in on them,” said catcher Ryan Babineau, who knocked two of the three runs in on a two-out triple. “At this point in the season, in our position, when you have an opportunity to win a ball game, you have to do that.”
One such opportunity came in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Bruins down 4-3. The Bruins had two men on and no outs with shortstop Brandon Crawford coming to the plate. Crawford failed to get the bunt down to advance both runners into scoring position and struck out swinging. After Babineau popped up to second, Cody Decker pinch-hit for left-fielder Mickey Weisser and struck out swinging, stranding the runners on base.
“I think it’s frustrating for the entire team,” coach John Savage said. “Those guys are trying. We got ourselves in position to maybe get a run-scoring opportunity, and what do you say? We didn’t get the bunt down and then unfortunately we didn’t get a base hit to get closer.”
Compounding the Bruin struggles at the plate was the performance of San Diego relief pitcher Ricardo Pecina. After the Bruins were able to get to Torero starter Sammy Solis, chasing him out of the game in the first innings, Pecina shut the Bruin offense down, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing no hits while striking out 11.
“Pecina dominated us,” Savage said. “We did a real good job against Solis in the first inning. I think it really had more to do about Pecina and (A.J.) Griffin tonight really. Those guys are really good and they threw the ball real well.”
To make matters worse, Bruin starting pitcher Garett Claypool delivered a discouraging performance and was pulled in the third after walking the leadoff batter.
“He struggled,” Savage said. “He just needs to get back to basics and get back to going through the glove.”
A UCLA season that began with a No. 1 preseason ranking and high hopes for a deep run in the playoffs has been marred by inconsistent play. Yet despite the failure to live up to the lofty preseason standards set forth by the media and the team itself, the Bruins remain adamant that the season is not over and the playoffs are still a possibility.
“Our RPI is in the top 50,” Savage said. “We have to go and win these series. There are three series left. I really feel that we have to play well the next three series and win all three of them for us to have an opportunity to get in. We know what we have to do. We control our own destiny.”