When the going gets tough, the tough don’t let the other
team score.
After losing a heartbreaking game on Friday, the Bruins
rebounded with two wins, capitalized by an utter blowout 14-0
Sunday that gave UCLA the series win over Washington State.
“(Friday) was a reality check,” left fielder Brandon
Averill said.
“We know we’re a better team, and we should have won
on Friday,” added third baseman Preston Griffin.
The Bruins (29-24, 10-8) showed just how much better a team they
are than the Cougars (26-22, 6-12) on Sunday.
Anchored by a masterful pitching performance from Wes Whisler,
who has struggled on the mound this year, UCLA dominated WSU
14-0.
“Wes has really turned it on,” coach Gary Adams
said. “That was the best (pitching) performance of the year
by anyone.”
In a Bruin starter’s first shutout of the season, Whisler
gave up no runs and only seven hits.
“I think it was my best start of the year,” he said.
“Things clicked together all around, and it was a great
day.”
Complementing Whisler’s pitching, the Bruin bats came
alive as they tied their season-high for runs scored.
The floodgates opened up in the fourth inning as the Bruins
scored four runs to add to a 1-0 lead.
They increased their lead in the fifth as Averill hit a
three-run homer, his seventh of the year.
UCLA then scored six more runs over the next four innings, en
route to its most lopsided win of the year, keeping its playoff
hopes secure.
“There’s no question about it. (Saturday and Sunday)
were two must-wins if we were going to stay in the (playoff)
hunt,” Adams said.
On Friday, Bruin ace pitcher Casey Janssen had trouble with the
Cougars, giving up seven runs (six earned) through his seven
innings of work.
By the eighth inning, UCLA found itself down 7-4, but rallied
for three runs to even the score after designated hitter Brett
McMillan brought three Bruins home with a double, taking the game
into extra innings.
In the tenth, WSU scored three runs off of two hits, and UCLA
almost returned the favor, scoring twice off of sacrifice flies
from shortstop Ryan McCarthy and Whisler, but fell just short,
losing 10-9.
After losing Friday’s game, the Bruins knew that another
loss to the last-place Cougars would significantly hurt their
playoff positioning.
Saturday, starter David Johnson held WSU to a lone run and six
hits en route to a 3-1 victory. Johnson collected his second win
with five strikeouts over 6-1/3 innings in a rare weekend
start.
The first UCLA run came in the first inning, as Whisler hit an
RBI single up the middle, scoring McMillan.
McMillan returned the favor in the second, knocking in second
baseman Mike Svetlic, for a 2-0 lead.
Whisler secured the Bruin victory in the fifth, homering over
the center field fence, his fifth of the year.
All in all, the weekend took the Bruins one step closer to the
postseason.
“The big goal is to get to the playoffs, Averill said.
“Anything short would be a disappointment.”