It was a weekend of almosts for the baseball team this weekend in Coral Gables, Fla. Friday night starter Tyson Brummett almost got the win with a strong outing against No. 5 Miami. No. 11 UCLA almost rebounded Saturday, taking an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth that did not hold up. And the Bruins almost avoided the sweep by coming back to tie Sunday’s game at three before allowing an eighth inning rally that decided the contest.
“We were in all three games until the final innings,” coach John Savage said. “This is a weekend we need to grow from, to get better from.”
A lot of the growing that lies ahead for UCLA (2-4) is about making good on opportunities. The Bruins left eight runners on base Friday and Saturday; both games were decided by one run.
“We had chances,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “We didn’t cash in early, and it ended up biting us.”
Brummett (1-1) gave his team every opportunity to succeed Friday night, tossing eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings, and gave up only one run on three hits.
That one run, however, would be enough to tag him with the loss and give Miami’s Scott Maine (1-0) the win. Down 1-0 in the top of the ninth, Crawford doubled to lead off the inning but would be stranded on the base paths.
Saturday, the bats came through late for UCLA. Crawford and first baseman Tim Stewart led off the ninth with back-to-back home runs for an 8-6 lead. That lead would not last, with Miami striking for three in the bottom of the ninth to take the game. UCLA closer Brant Rustich (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
In the third and final game of the series, UCLA had more late offense. Down 3-2 in the eighth, a new face in the Bruins’ lineup stepped up. Freshman outfielder Justin Uribe, making only his second start as a Bruin, went yard to tie up the game at three.
“We were down morale wise, and down a run,” Uribe said. “I was just trying to get on base. I don’t hit home runs. I was trying to hit a single and it just went out.”
The tide turned quickly when the Hurricanes put a four spot on the Bruins in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory and the sweep. Senior Paul Schmidt (0-2) was hit with the loss.