Laboring through a season that has had its share of blowout
losses, the UCLA baseball team can add a heartbreaking one into the
mix as well.
Down two runs with runners on second and third and no outs in
the last inning, the Bruins seemed poised to make a comeback
against UC Riverside. Yet in one play, the Bruins’ fortunes
were reversed during their 3-2 loss to the Highlanders on Tuesday
night.
“It was a pretty well-played game,” coach John
Savage said. “But it was a tough loss.”
After Brett McMillan struck out for the first out in the ninth
inning, pinch hitter Hector Ambriz singled to score pinch runner
Tommy Lansdon from third. However, Jonathan Medici, who had also
come in as a pinch runner, was thrown out trying to score from
second base. Had he stayed at third base, the Bruins would have
still had a golden opportunity to tie the game with runners on
first and third and one out. Instead, Will Penniall’s
strikeout the next at bat ended the game.
“It was a tough play, but it was just the last of nine
innings,” said Savage. “We failed to capitalize on
opportunities earlier.”
The Bruins managed a meager five hits against the Highlanders
and rarely threatened to score. While they did have two more hits
than Riverside, the difference proved to be the timing of those
hits.
“Their pitcher pitched a good game,” Savage said.
“But mostly it’s on how we were swinging the bats. We
hit a couple of balls hard, but we just couldn’t generate
enough hits and put the pressure on them.”
Brant Rustich, who started the game for the Bruins, pitched a
strong four innings in which he only gave up one hit and one walk.
None of the three runs he gave up were earned
Kevin Brophy, who came to relieve Rustich, pitched 3 1/3 innings
while giving up only one hit and one walk.
“I thought we pitched very well,” Savage said.
“Rustich threw the ball very well. He didn’t help
himself with his defense; he threw a bunt away at one point. But
overall to say the pitching did well is true.”
As a measure of how strong the pitching was, the game was played
in a relatively quick two hours and 39 minutes.
“It was definitely a quick game,” Savage said.
“Both staffs did a very good job, and it was a generally
well-pitched game.”