Matadors hand team third-straight loss
Friday, February 26, 1999
Matadors hand team third-straight loss
BASEBALL: After disappointing CS Northridge loss, Bruin ballclub looks to Cal series for turnaround
By Evan Lovett
Daily Bruin Staff
It was a pair of home runs that broke the Bruins' back on Wednesday at Matador Field.
With sophomore right-hander Chad Cislak making his first start of the season, UCLA (8-11) hoped to capitalize on his early effectiveness, shutting down Cal State Northridge for the first three innings.
"I was a little uncomfortable, but I am making improvement," said Cislak.
Cislak, limited to a maximum of 80 pitches by head coach Gary Adams, was pulled in the fifth inning despite having only allowed two runs.
"He's really improved from a month ago," said Adams. "But he's still not at the level we need him to be."
Sophomore southpaw Ryan Carter came in to finish the fifth inning and continued into the seventh inning, where the floodgates opened for CSUN (11-9).
Adrian Mendoza began the seventh with what Gary Adams called "a swinging bunt" and reached first base on catcher Jason Green's error.
The next two hitters would walk, forcing Adams to turn to sophomore Tyler Dersom out of the bullpen.
Dersom allowed a single to rightfielder Matt Synhorst and a home run to junior Dan Phillips.
With the score 9-4, Adams brought in junior Dan Keller, who would promptly allow another home run to Kevin Patrick. The roundtripper by Patrick gave CS Northridge a 10-4 lead, which would prove to be the ultimate score.
"We really wanted to win that game - we needed a stopper. The seventh inning was our Waterloo," said Adams.
The Bruins were led in the offense department by first baseman Garrett Atkins and second baseman Chase Utley. Atkins contributed three hits and Utley hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
The loss to the Matadors marked the third consecutive loss to the Northridge ballclub and the third loss in the Bruins' past four games of the season.
"We need to turn it around," said Adams. "We're right there, and our guys can feel it."
The Bruins will face their first conference opponent in the University of California, Berkeley this weekend, with a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The first game will be today at 3 p.m. with Jon Brandt (3-1, 2.25) taking the hill for UCLA. Junior right-hander Jon Shirley (1-1, 1.32) will start for the Golden Bears.
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