Imagine having to travel across the country a few days before the start of finals week.
That’s the scenario the UCLA baseball team faced this past weekend. Fortunately for the Bruins, they didn’t return to Westwood empty-handed.
UCLA (5-12) earned its second series win of the season, taking the first two games of a three-game set against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. The Bruins won 10-9 in Friday’s opening game of a doubleheader before rain suspended the second game while UCLA led 5-3. The game was resumed early Saturday morning, with the Bruins eventually defeating the Pirates 8-6. UCLA, though, was unable to complete the sweep later that same day, dropping a 7-5 contest in the finale at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
“The weekend was a big step for us,” senior infielder Cody Decker said.
The three-game series was altered due to expectations of rain. That, combined with looming final exams, gave the players more to think about.
“It was tough with all of the rescheduling, the rain and the traveling,” freshman pitcher Trevor Bauer said. “Finals got pushed to the background and we had to focus on East Carolina.”
The Pirates (11-4) took leads in the first two games of the series, but a resilient UCLA team battled back to win both games. Freshmen pitchers Gerrit Cole and Bauer combined to strike out 17 batters in the second game.
“The rain was one of the best parts of the weekend,” Decker said. “Rain or shine, we went right at it.”
UPPER DECKER: Senior infielder Cody Decker blasted four home runs last week, three of them coming at East Carolina. Decker leads the team in that category with six, just one shy of what he hit all of last season.
“I’m seeing the ball well,” he said. “I’m feeling pretty good at the plate.”
Decker’s numbers drastically fell last season after a solid sophomore campaign. The Santa Monica native hit .307 and belted a team-leading 14 home runs as a sophomore but hit only .218 last season.
“I don’t think I need to prove myself,” Decker said. “I’ve had a pretty good career here. Last year was just embarrassing for me. I played horrible.”
CROSSTOWN RIVALRY: The Bruins open Pac-10 play on Saturday with a three-game set against USC (6-8) at Dedeaux Field.
“We can’t get too wrapped up with the names on the jerseys,” Bauer said.
“USC is a great program,” Decker said. “It’s always, always fun when we play them.”