NICOLE MILLER/ Daily Bruin Freshman shortstop
Preston Griffin, here in action over the weekend
against Oregon State, and his teammates will face UCSB today.
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff
With playoff hopes dimming, the UCLA baseball team travels up
the coast to take on the UCSB Gauchos.
Despite winning three of their last four games, the Bruins
(29-24) need some serious help if they want to make the
postseason.
“I think if they are going to take four teams from the
Pac-10, they have to take UCLA,” said Bruin Head Coach Gary
Adams. “Still, we have to get a win on Tuesday.”
Beating the No. 15 Gauchos will be no easy task. UCSB (37-13) is
currently one game behind No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in the Big West
standings, having taken two of three from the Titans last weekend.
The Gauchos have one more conference series to play before earning
a spot in postseason play.
BASEBALL PREVIEW vs. Today 2
p.m. Santa Barbara, CA
The Bruins won the last time the two teams played, edging out
the Gauchos 6-5 in a 14-inning marathon. Junior James Garcia got
the start for UCSB, allowing just one run on three hits in six
innings.
Brandon Averill started for the Bruins, but was long gone by the
time Matt Pearl singled home Josh Arhart in the bottom of the
14th.
The two teams have come a long way since then. UCLA fell into a
slump, losing 11 of 12 games at one point. The Gauchos have gone
the other direction, streaking to 11 wins in 13 games. They are
poised to capture the Big West title if they can sweep Cal Poly
next weekend and get help from Long Beach State in the 49ers’
series against Fullerton.
“They are a good team,” UCLA junior pitcher Kevin
Jerkens said. “They are not going to be easy to
beat.”
A win would help the Bruins’ playoff hopes, but it is not
nearly as important as the upcoming weekend series against Arizona
State. UCLA will have to refrain from looking past the Gauchos, as
many teams have done this year.
UCSB is led by third baseman Dave Molider, who went 0-6 the last
time the Gauchos played the Bruins. Left fielder Jed Stringham
homered in the February game, and center fielder Jared Shumaker had
three hits and a stolen base.
It is impossible for UCLA to finish above .500 in the Pac-10,
but a win on Tuesday would improve the team’s overall record
and possibly contribute to a postseason berth.