Baseball desperate for win over Loyola Lions
Bruins must grab win from LMU to keep glimmer of playoff hopes
alive
By Ruben Gutierrez
UCLA baseball needs a win and needs it badly.
The Bruins (25-22 overall, 12-15 conference) face Loyola
Marymount this afternoon at LMU. The last time the two teams met in
March, the Lions pulled off an improbable upset over the Bruins,
4-1. While UCLA still has a glimmer of hope left for the regional
playoffs, LMU has none.
"We don’t have a very good chance of making the playoffs,"
Loyola head coach Jody Robinson said. "We’re basically in a spoiler
role right now. We’re just going to go out and try to play well and
win."
According to Robinson, the key to victory for both clubs will be
the all-important pitching staff. Loyola plans to use pitchers
today who normally only see action in weekend conference games.
"(UCLA’s) talent level is high," Robinson said. "The mid-week
pitching and who they throw against us will be the key to the game.
We’re not sure who’ll start, we’ll have to see some kids’ arms.
Most likely, though, we’ll split it up."
Several LMU pitchers will be used in the pre-arranged combined
effort. Among them is right-hander Andy Collett, the owner of a
club-low 1.98 ERA. Collett, however, is only 1-1, by virtue of an
early season throwing injury.
Right-hander Jason Hueth is also expected to play. Hueth is the
team leader in victories, notching five to four losses, with a 7.70
ERA. Brian Intelkofer, a right-hander with no record and a 9.93 ERA
will be the likely starter for the Lions.
Offensively, LMU is led by second baseman Ikaika Hoopii. Hoopii
has started all games for the Lions this season and has a .325
average to go along with six homers. Collett is dangerous from the
plate as well as the mound, with a .326 average and a club-high 11
dongs. Shortstop Marc Mirizzi leads the team in batting average
with a .333
For UCLA, catcher Tim DeCinces continues to tear up the
opposition, leading the team in average with a .341, in
round-trippers with 11 and in RBIs with 42. Leftfielder Eric Byrnes
is hitting .327 with eight homers of his own.
The starter from the mound for UCLA has not yet been determined,
but the Bruins will probably mix things up as well.