Thursday, February 6, 1997
BASEBALL:
Bruins make mistakes, allowing the Matadors to tie the gameBy
Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Contributor
In a game they should have won, the Bruins were instead left in
the dark.
UCLA held a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
However, it settled for a 9-9 tie when the game was called due to
the darkness that blanketed Matador Field after Cal State
Northridge (5-1-1) rallied for six runs in the final frame.
Gabe Crecion and Tony Righetti combined to hold the Matadors
scoreless through six innings.
But then the flood gates opened.
Rob Henkel surrendered three runs in the seventh, allowing the
Matadors to cut the lead to 7-3.
UCLA (7-0-1) scored two more insurance runs in the eighth, but
it was not enough.
Al Thielemann started the ninth for the Bruins, but gave up hits
to all three batters he faced. Ryan O’Toole entered the game and
retired to batters before being relieved of his duties because of a
walk, a hit and two earned runs. Finally, Jake Meyer finished up
the game from the mound, but not before giving up a hit and
allowing CSUN to even the score.
A few good UCLA outings went to waste in this game.
Crecion pitched three shutout innings and allowed only one hit
in his collegiate debut. Centerfielder Eric Valent continued his
hot hitting from Las Vegas by going 2-for-3 with two walks and his
fourth home run of the season.
Second baseman Nick Theodorou added a two-run home run, while
leftfielder John Heinrichs and first baseman Peter Zamora also
added round-trippers.
Adam Kennedy was 2-for-6 with a home run and 3 RBI for CSUN.