For the UCLA baseball team, Wednesday night was one of missed opportunities.
In the end the failed chances piled up, which resulted in a disappointing 3-2 loss to Loyola Marymount on a chilly night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Bruins (10-15) fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, and it proved to be all the Lions (17-13) would need to get the victory, their ninth in 10 games.
“Unfortunately (LMU) took advantage of it,” coach John Savage said. “It was one of those nights.”
UCLA’s biggest opportunity of the game came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out.
Trailing 3-2 after having already scored a run, the Bruins were on the verge of adding more. But after junior infielder Casey Haerther walked on four pitches to load the bases, junior outfielder Justin Uribe bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Again trailing by the same 3-2 score in the seventh inning, the Bruins received a leadoff double from redshirt freshman pinch-hitter Marc Navarro. Despite the favorable scoring chance, the ensuing three batters failed to capitalize.
And that’s as close as UCLA would get.
“We didn’t cash in,” Savage said. “Loyola made pitches when they had to. It was a frustrating night.”
The Bruins also fell victim to bad luck.
Before grounding into the double play in the fifth, Uribe had lined out sharply to LMU first baseman Ryan Wheeler twice. Runs would have scored on both occasions. In all, UCLA stranded seven runners on base.
Haerther and senior second baseman Eddie Murray registered a pair of hits each, with Murray scoring and driving in a run as well. The Lions, led by right-handed reliever Chris Eusebio’s four scoreless innings, limited the rest of the Bruin lineup to just four hits on the night.
Meanwhile, however, the UCLA bullpen held LMU’s offense in check. After sophomore left-handed starter Matt Grace exited in the second inning, Bruin relievers put up eight zeros on the scoreboard.
“Our bullpen was outstanding,” Savage said. “They pitched out of jams. They did everything they could do.”
UCLA’s pitchers combined to strike out 12 batters; it was the team’s 12th double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Sophomore left-hander Rob Rasmussen, who had been struggling recently as a starter, struck out a career-high seven batters, allowing just two hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
“I just tried to pitch to contact,” Rasmussen said. “Luckily I made some good enough pitches that they missed them. Once I got to two strikes I knew I could get them with a good curveball or well-located fastball.”
The UCLA offense, though, was unable to battle back even with the help of the bullpen’s effort.
“It’s part of baseball,” Rasmussen said. “There are nights when the pitching is not that great but our offense picks us up.”
SHORT HOPS: Sophomore left-hander Matt Grace exited the game in the second inning with a groin injury, which according to coach John Savage, “could be serious.”
Freshman infielder Adrian Williams made his collegiate debut, making the start at shortstop. The first pitch he saw hit him. Later, Williams recorded his first career hit, doubling down the left field line in the fifth inning.