Baseball ruins Aztecs in long battle
Bruins outlast seven
SDSU pitchers, win
ugly 8-6 game at JRS
By Ruben Gutierrez
The UCLA baseball team ran its record to 3-1 with an 8-6 win
over San Diego State at Jackie Robinson Stadium yesterday.
SDSU was first to score after UCLA committed an error in which
starting pitcher Jim Parque failed to touch the bag at first base,
allowing SDSU catcher Erren O’Leary on base. After another error,
O’Leary reached second and scored after outfielder Andy Bevins hit
a single.
UCLA answered in the fourth inning, which SDSU opened by walking
two batters and then giving up a double to Zamora and a single to
junior Zak Ammirato, driving in two runs to give the Bruins a 2-1
advantage.
UCLA’s biggest inning, however, still lay ahead, as nine batters
went to the plate for the Bruins in the fifth inning. After a
single by catcher Tim DeCinces brought in freshman right fielder
Eric Byrnes, a bases-loaded double by Zamora brought in three more
Bruin runs. UCLA took a 6-1 lead as a result.
"It was the middle of the game and we have a thing around here
where that’s when we try to turn it on the most," head coach Gary
Adams said. "Most teams let down in the middle innings and we try
to fight against that."
Zamora finished the game hitting a perfect three for three, with
five RBIs and a sacrifice fly, despite two defensive errors.
"If I hit in the cages, I’m not really the greatest hitter, but
I’m a gamer," Zamora said. "Once I get into the game, it’s totally
different. My eyes just get real wide and I just see the ball so
well at game time."
SDSU eventually tied the game at six in the top of the seventh
inning, scoring three runs after having scored two in the sixth.
Leadoff hitter Levon Hall started the Aztecs rally when he reached
first base on another Bruin error. Hall was replaced by
pinch-runner Jerrod Riggan, who later scored.
"That’s an area we’ve got to sharpen up on and I think the
errors that I saw are correctable," Adams said.
The Bruins responded by opening the inning with a single by
DeCinces and a double by shortstop Troy Glaus. Both scored on
sacrifice flies by Zamora and senior Mike Seal to seal the
game.