After two shutouts and no earned runs allowed in the UCLA baseball team’s opening weekend sweep of San Francisco, it was clear that pitching wasn’t going to be an issue for this season’s Bruins.
It was the other side of the plate that had UCLA fans worried. The Bruins only manufactured eight runs in the three weekend games.
But Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium, UCLA made a statement at the plate, batting through the entire lineup in the bottom of the first inning on its way to beating Pepperdine 9-0 for the fourth consecutive time.
Four singles and a Pepperdine throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by sophomore left fielder Cody Keefer helped UCLA (4-0) push five runs across in the bottom of the first.
“I thought we stayed on them offensively the entire game,” coach John Savage said.
“We really could have scored a few more runs, but nine was enough. We changed the lineup around tonight, and I think they responded.”
UCLA’s first-inning scoring barrage forced Pepperdine (3-1) to pull freshman left-hander Matt Maurer in favor of freshman right-hander Michael Swanner. The Waves didn’t stop there, turning to three more relievers before night’s end to cool down the Bruins’ bats.
The Bruins started their first midweek game with a predominantly right-handed batting lineup to counter the left-handed Maurer, but ended up substituting five players into the lineup after tacking on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The win comes as UCLA’s third shutout of the season with just four games played, its largest number of shutouts since the 2008 season.
Two of those three runs came courtesy of a single from freshman shortstop Pat Valaika, who finished the game with two hits and three RBI. His RBI-single in the first was his first hit as a Bruin.
“It was sweet,” said Valaika, who was 0-for-7 coming into Tuesday’s game. “It was the best feeling ever. I finally got the monkey off my back. Now I can relax and have some confidence.”
Valaika had one of many firsts for UCLA Tuesday. Fellow freshman and second baseman Kevin Williams got his first hit as well. Six freshman played in Tuesday’s game, and Savage liked what he saw.
“We really like our young guys,” Savage said. “We’ve got a lot of good, young players. You have the older guys, but we’re going to need everybody to contribute, and I think you’re seeing some signs of the future.”
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Scott Griggs got the win in his first career start, giving up only two hits and striking out five in the process of throwing four scoreless innings.
Griggs, who pitched in eight games as a reliever last season, said he looks forward to competing for the Tuesday night starting job and hopes to get the nod next week on the road against San Diego State.
“It’s different, but I love it,” Griggs said of his new role.
“My goal coming to UCLA was to be a starter, and I’m going to embrace Tuesdays and see where it goes.”