With one series left in the regular season, things are
relatively simple for the UCLA baseball team.
Sweep this weekend’s series against Oregon State, and the
Bruins will almost certainly make the NCAA Regionals. Win two, and
it’s likely but not certain. Lose more than one game, and the
Bruins may spend their fourth-straight postseason at home.
“We have to take care of business against Oregon
State,” coach Gary Adams said.
With UCLA’s RPI at No. 49 it is on the bubble for the
regionals, and even a series win against the Beavers (30-20, 9-12
Pac-10) does not guarantee the Bruins (31-26, 12-9 Pac-10) a
regional appearance.
Adams knows this from experience.
“We can do a lot to help our cause by winning at Oregon
State,” Adams said. “But I learned my lesson in 1976
when we won the conference championship and didn’t make
it.”
Adams is worried that the NCAA Selection Committee might
overlook his team due to being from the West.
“I’m particularly concerned this year because there
is no one from the West Coast that’s on the selection
committee, except UNLV,” Adams said.
The only guaranteed path is for the Bruins to sweep Oregon
State.
“We’re looking for a sweep and that’s all
we’re focusing on,” outfielder Chad Concolino said.
“We’ve said one day will not work, we want all
three.”
To take three from Oregon State, the Bruins will have to pitch
well against the Beavers and their potent offense.
The Beaver lineup consists of eight hitters with a batting
average over .280, and their hitters will test UCLA’s
walk-prone pitching staff with an excellent .401 on-base
percentage.
The Oregon State offense is led by outfielder Aaron Mathews, who
is batting .340 and leads the team with eight home runs and 49
RBI.
Fellow Beaver outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury leads the team in
batting at .359 and also leads in runs with 53 and stolen bases
with 20.
The Beavers also have a decent starting pitching staff with a
couple of solid relievers.
Their ace is Jake Postlewait, who is 10-3 with a 3.90 ERA, and,
combined with relievers Kevin Gunderson (2.87 ERA) and Jake
McCormick (2.37 ERA), Oregon State’s pitching staff should
make things tough on the Bruins.
“(The Beavers) have pitched much better than they have
been given credit for,” hitting coach Vince Beringhele
said.
Whatever happens for UCLA, its season has been a success
considering it was picked by the Pac-10 coaches to finish
seventh.
“No one expected us to be here,” Concolino said.
“The last few games ““ we’re going to have fun
with (them).”