After an 18-7 win over Washington State in Pullman on Sunday,
the only certainty for Gary Adams and his UCLA baseball team is
that the 2003 season is over.
Whether Adams ““ who finished his 29th season as head coach
of the Bruins with a 28-31 record ““ will be back for a 30th
is unclear. UCLA missed the playoffs for the third consecutive
season, and despite overwhelming support from his players ““
many of whom played their best series of the season this past
weekend ““ Adams’ job is hardly secure.
UCLA came out with nothing to play for but pride against the
Washington State Cougars (19-37, 7-18), but made a statement with
two convincing victories. On Friday night, the Bruins put up nine
runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to a 21-3 stomping
with the help of junior starter Casey Janssen’s six strong
innings. Janssen allowed just one run on six hits. Sophomore first
baseman Wes Whisler collected three hits and four RBI as the squad
erupted for its highest run total of the season.
UCLA dropped Saturday’s matinee 15-2 but came back on
Sunday for the 18-7 victory in their last game of the season.
Senior Brandon Averill hit for the cycle, becoming the first Bruin
since Garrett Atkins to do so.
The squad posted a season-high 25 hits and displayed the sort of
offensive firepower they will need next season. In both weekend
victories, every Bruin batter got one hit and scored a run.
Despite the successful weekend, it might not be enough to
convince UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero to retain Adams for
another season.
Guerrero will still look closely at the state of the UCLA
baseball program, just as he did with the football and men’s
basketball programs prior to firing head coaches Bob Toledo and
Steve Lavin.
Last week Guerrero refused to give Adams a vote of confidence
despite what he acknowledged as very strong alumni support for the
veteran skipper. Guerrero was out of town all weekend fulfilling
his duties as a part of the NCAA baseball selection committee, but
he will likely meet with Adams early this week and then make a
swift decision about his fate.
Adams said last week that he has no plans to resign and hopes to
be back in Westwood next year as usual.
“I have a good relationship with Guerrero,” Adams
told the Daily Bruin last week. “Hey, baseball players know
how to communicate.”