EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Junior Josh Karp
pitches in a game against UC Riverside last month.
UCLA 10 LMU 6
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA baseball team continued its winning ways Tuesday in a
10-6 victory over Loyola Marymount at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Redshirt sophomore Wade Clark earned the first win of his UCLA
career in relief of Mike Davern, going five innings and giving up
just three runs. Clark struck out four and walked one in his
longest outing of the year.
“Wade Clark was maybe the brightest spot of all,”
head coach Gary Adams said. “He kept us in the game. He
pitched well.”
Davern got into trouble early, giving up two runs in the first
and one in the third. Adams turned to Clark to put out the fire,
and the big righty answered the challenge.
Clark gave up three runs in the fourth, but shut down the Lions
(5-1) the rest of the evening.
Brian Baron continued his hot hitting, going 4 for 4 for the
second time this year. The senior designated hitter knocked in
three and scored three to help the Bruins (3-2) win their third
game in 2001.
Senior Eric Reece had four RBIs and a pair of doubles for the
Bruins, who scored in double digits for the third straight
game.
The Bruins’ 2001 brand of baseball is supposed to feature
less runs and better defense. Three UCLA players had stolen bases
on the night, and the team made just two errors while turning two
double plays.
“We played some good defense,” Adams said. “In
fact, I think our defense beat their defense.”
Last year’s ninth-inning defeat to LMU gave the Bruins
inspiration to beat the Lions.
“Last year, they dogpiled on their field when they beat us
in the last inning,” senior Matt Pearl said. “I told
the team, “˜Let’s be up and be ready to
fight.'”
No one seemed to remember the last game like Baron.
The senior was forced to sit and watch last year as the Lions
came from behind to beat the Bruins on a walk-off hit.
This year he came ready to play. Baron seems to be hitting
everything in sight lately. He is 11-15 on the year with three
doubles and six RBIs.
Despite the success, Baron remained focused on what the team
must do to improve.
“I was happy with our offense,” he said. “Our
defense could use a little work.”
The top of the order did the most damage for UCLA. The first
five hitters scored all 10 runs and totaled nine RBIs.
Catcher Josh Arhart and shortstop Josh Canales were the only
other Bruins to tally hits.
Canales had a pair of singles and a stolen base.
One of the biggest differences between last year’s LMU
game and Tuesday night’s game was the bullpen. After
Clark’s stint on the mound, Paul Diaz, Mike Kunes and Chris
Cordeiro combined to shut out the Lions.
Cordeiro earned his first save as a Bruin, needing just two
pitches to induce a double play.
“They pitched better and fielded better than we
did,” LMU head coach Frank Cruz said. “They beat us and
they look pretty good to me.”