Wednesday, February 18, 1998
Ups and downs leave UCLA on high ground
BASEBALL: Bruins finally defeat Cal, prepare for Stanford after
shaky start
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Staff
After Jelani-gate, the Harrick fiasco and the women’s softball
probation, UCLA has taught everyone to expect the unexpected.
The UCLA baseball team likes the "unexpected" philosophy so much
that they have decided to adopt it as well.
This past weekend at Berkeley, the No. 16 Bruins (6-4 overall,
2-0 in Six-Pac) were supposed to play three games against Cal
(2-5-1, 0-2). But rain and darkness prevented UCLA from completing
the series, and only two games were played.
On Friday, the first game of the series was suspended due to
darkness in the seventh inning, with the Bruins up 11-8. Then on
Saturday the game could not be finished due to rain. Finally on
Sunday, the first game was completed with the Bruins coming out on
top 13-8.
The same day, UCLA and Cal played the second game of the series.
In arguably the most exciting game of the year so far, UCLA won
11-10 in 10 innings.
The final game of the series was to be played on Monday, but
because of rain it was cancelled and rescheduled for March 31 – the
day after UCLA visits Stanford.
To further support the "unexpected" theme, the Bruins won the
second game against Cal thanks to a pinch-hitter.
Freshman outfielder Nick Lyon stepped up to the plate for only
the second time this season and hammered a ball over the wall to
provide UCLA with a 11-9 lead.
The Bruins’ yo-yo season seemed doomed after a 1-4 start. But a
current five-game winning streak and a 2-0 start in league play has
the Bruins riding high.
The fact that UCLA came home for two weeks was not enough to
drive the "unexpected" away.
With a game scheduled for Tuesday against Loyola Marymount, the
Bruins returned to find that the baseball field at Jackie Robinson
Stadium needed maintenance. The game is now scheduled to be played
today at 3 p.m.
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Reightley, after missing his scheduled
start against Cal, will start today for the Bruins and pitch only a
few innings.
UCLA head coach Gary Adams wants his starters in top form when
top-ranked Stanford plays three games at UCLA this weekend.AARON
TOUT/Daily Bruin
Freshman Ryan Carter pitches during the game against University
San Diego.