Friday, April 17, 1998
ASU sweep imperative to stay afloat
BASEBALL: Bruins must win all three games to see post-season
action
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Staff
This weekend is make or break for the UCLA baseball team. They
travel to Tempe for a three-game series against No. 16 Arizona
State.
In terms of Pac-10 Southern Division Standings, ASU (28-14, 14-6
in conference play) is in second place behind Stanford, the team at
the top of the national standings. The Bruins (18-24, 10-14) sit
six games back from the Sun Devils, and in fourth place in the
league.
In order to keep any post-season hopes alive for UCLA baseball,
the squad needs to sweep the series.
"We’d like to go for the sweep," designated hitter Forrest
Johnson said. "I think we can put it together. It seems like
everyone has been hitting pretty well. Our defense has been getting
a lot more solid as we play."
Right fielder Eric Byrnes is confident, as well, going into the
conference series.
"This team is capable of doing anything," Byrnes said. "You can
put us up against the top team in the country and I can guarantee
that we will be there every game."
The Bruins are up against hot competition. The Sun Devils have
swept their last three conference opponents – Cal, Arizona and No.
11 USC. In its last five conference games, ASU has outscored its
opponents 81-28.
UCLA has won five of its last six league games, with the lone
loss coming against Arizona last weekend.
The Bruin freshman pitching rotation returns to the mound for
the crucial series. Right-hander Paul Diaz (1-2, 5.06 ERA) faces
junior left-hander Ryan Mills (5-3, 4.28) on Friday night at 7
p.m.
Southpaw Ryan Carter (2-1, 6.35) challenges senior righty Richie
Leon (2-0, 5.87) on Saturday afternoon. Fox Sports Network will
televise Saturday’s game nationally at noon Pacific.
The series finale features right-hander Chad Cislak (3-7, 8.90)
against junior lefty Phill Lowery (7-4, 4.16).
* * *
Freshman third baseman Garrett Atkins is cleared for play in
this weekend’s series. He has missed the last three games with a
sprained ankle.
Arizona State leads the all-time series, 84-43. They took the
Westwood series in March, winning two of three.
With contributions from Vytas Mazeika, Daily Bruin Staff.