Wednesday, February 19, 1997
BASEBALL:
UCLA erupts during first five innings, winning streak
continuesBy Sierra Roberts
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA’s baseball team blew through Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in
Santa Barbara just like the Monday night winds that passed through
the Southland.
The Bruins (14-1-1) continued their winning streak with a
dominating 17-7 win against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
Even though UCSB (6-5) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead,
the Bruin offense took control of the game early, scoring all their
runs in the first five innings of play, seven of which in the
second inning.
The first six UCLA batters all reached base on hits, and
capitalized on one walk, one hits batsman and one Gaucho error en
route to the seven-run outburst and a 7-3 lead.
After UCSB had narrowed the gap to 7-5, the Bruins exploded for
another six runs in the fourth.
Back-to-back home runs by third baseman Troy Glaus (his seventh
of the season) and rightfielder Eric Byrnes capped a two-out rally
that featured five consecutive base hits.
After UCSB scored once in the bottom of the inning, the Bruins
came back immediately, scoring four more of their own and put the
finishing touches on their 17-run outburst.
But hitting wasn’t the only story for UCLA. After a shaky start,
four different Bruin relievers combined to slow down the Gaucho
attack.
Starting pitcher for the Bruins, Dan Keller, allowed five runs
and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.
However, over the final 6 2/3 innings, UCSB managed only one run
on four hits.
Matt Klein allowed one run in over two innings of work.
Gabe Crecion and Rob Henkel each allowed one hit and one
strike-out during their combined three innings of work.
Tony Righetti finished off the Gauchos with two strikeouts in
the ninth inning.
Gaucho starting pitcher, Seth Bean allowed seven runs and only
one strike-out before he was replaced in the second by Barry
Zito.
Zito had four strike-outs and allowed six runs in his three
innings on the mound.
The Bruins will begin conference play when they take on No. 8
Arizona State beginning Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.