Friday, May 8, 1998
UCLA heads north to play final games of ’98 season
BASEBALL: UCLA wants to end on good note, ruin OSU’s postseason
hopes
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Staff
At the start of the season, it looked like the last weekend
series would be an easy one for the Bruins.
They were scheduled to play Oregon State for the final three
games of the regular season. Piece of cake.
Well, things have changed over the course of the year, and now
the Beavers are the ones gunning for a postseason spot. The Bruins
are just hoping to give them a run for their money.
"They’re on the bordlerline of the regionals," Bruin
centerfielder Eric Valent said.
"Hopefully, we will spoil their hopes."
UCLA (24-30, 11-19 Pac-10) is facing a rival from the Pac-10
Northern Division for the second weekend in a row.
This will be the Bruins’ first visit to Coleman Field since
1970.
OSU (33-14-1, 15-9 in Pac-10 North) lost the Northern Division
baseball title to Washington last weekend. They have not played
since.
"We’ve got something to play for," Beavers head coach Pat Casey
said.
The makings of an intense weekend are set.
"They pitch very well, and they have pretty decent offense,"
Bruin hitting coach Vince Beringhele said. "I talked with Arizona,
and they said that OSU is legit."
To give you an idea of what is Beringhele is referring to,
Saturday’s starting pitcher for OSU is righthander Andrew
Checketts. The senior from Florida is 11-1 with a 3.60 ERA.
Friday’s starter for the Beavers is junior Chris Pine (4-3, 4.98
ERA) and going on Sunday is senior Brody Percell (4-4, 4.2).
The Bruins will counter with freshman Ryan Carter (3-1, 6.88) on
Friday afternoon, redshirt freshman Paul Diaz (2-4, 6.31) on
Saturday, and senior Tony Righetti 2-0, 2.66) in the season
finale.
Leading OSU’s "pretty decent offense" are designated hitter Joe
Gerber and rightfielder Rob Colley.
Gerber is putting together an impressive sophomore campaign. In
38 games, he has a .370 batting average, 11 homeruns, and 36
RBI.
Colley, a junior, has strong numbers as well. He is hitting .357
with 57 RBI in 46 games.
UCLA’s Eric Byrnes (.323, 12 HR, 48 RBI), with his last games in
a Bruin uniform looming large, is looking forward to the
weekend.
"I play to go out and play hard," Byrnes said. "I want to end on
a good note. It’s been a great four years."