UCLA baseball head coach Gary Adams wanted to convey a message
to his team to change its approach to hitting.
So he shaved his mustache.
He hadn’t shaved it in 33 years.
Whether the clean-cut appearance explains it, Adams’
offense exploded this weekend against No. 18 USC, sandwiching a
tough 9-6 loss Saturday between a well-played 7-4 victory Friday
and a punishing 17-5 walloping of the Trojans Sunday. Adams’
ever-present mustache was not the only streak halted, as UCLA beat
USC for the first time in 11 games.
“It’s been 33 years, and I just needed to show the
team that I am serious about making a change,” Adams said.
“Winning just one game against USC is not so much a
confidence boost, but winning the series certainly is.”
Not only did UCLA win the weekend series, but it now posts a
better record (12-12 to USC’s 9-10 record) than its vaunted
crosstown rival.
The Bruins relied on five first- inning runs Friday to carry
them to a well-played victory. Sophomore Billy Susdorf dealt a
first-inning blow with a three-run homer ““ his team-leading
fifth of the year ““ and junior Brandon Averill added a
two-run double. Senior Mike Kunes earned his team-leading fourth
win.
“It was definitely in the back of everyone’s mind
that we hadn’t beaten ‘SC since my sophomore
year,” Kunes said. “So I think the guys came out the
first inning a little more pumped up.”
Saturday’s game started much like Friday’s, but this
time the Trojans did the early damage. They reached junior starter
Casey Janssen for seven runs ““ five earned, in two and a
third innings ““ and the Bruins could not quite recover. UCLA
committed five errors in the loss. Sophomore Matt Thayer, freshman
Jeff Abney and Averill homered to supply all the Bruin offense.
Sunday, the Bruins got the balanced offensive explosion they had
been looking for since the first series of the year. And that was
just in the first inning. Continuing the weekend’s trend of
big first innings leading to victories, the Bruins scored 10 runs,
five hits and six walks in the first.
For the game, UCLA had numerous offensive stars, led by
Thayer’s two hits and four RBI, junior Preston
Griffin’s three hits and three RBI, sophomore Ryan
McCarthey’s three hits (including his fourth home run of the
year) and Averill, who had three hits and two RBI.
USC is the third top-25-ranked opponent the Bruins have beaten
this season.