Baseball looking to run over Toreros
After dropping series to Stanford, Bruins face 6-6 USD today in San Diego
By Ruben Gutierrez
In a midweek hiatus from conference play, UCLA baseball will play the University of San Diego today at Cunningham Field (2:30 p.m.). The Bruins are currently 8-6 after dropping two of three games to Stanford last weekend.
The Toreros are currently 6-6, with an impressive 5-3 record at home. They most recently swept Cal State Northridge, a team which nearly beat UCLA Wednesday, in a three-game series this past weekend. Also included in the wins are an impressive 5-3 victory over second-ranked USC earlier this season.
Offensively, the Toreros are led by outfielders Larry Williams and Brady Clark. Williams leads USD in batting average (.367) and has racked up 18 hits, among them five for extra bases. Clark is a .311 batter with seven RBI's and is tied for the team lead with two home runs.
"They're a pretty well-balanced team. They've got a little bit of power and good speed," UCLA coach Gary Adams said. "Williams is a senior and I'm surprised he didn't sign (a pro contract) last year. He's a speedy centerfielder and he's always hit well against us."
Matt LeBelle, a senior with a 4.41 ERA, will make the start for the Toreros. The lefty has started three games this season and has completed none.
UCLA has been home run happy of late and hit happy in general. Over the weekend, freshman Eric Byrnes turned up the offensive firepower and launched two dingers out of the park to tie the team lead with three. Byrnes also leads the team in batting average, hitting .328. Prior to that, Bruins Tim DeCinces and Zak Ammirato each hit ninth inning home runs to spark a late Bruin rally which would lead UCLA to a four-run rally and a victory over Northridge.
"It's good to see some guys getting their bats in tune right now," Adams said. "We've still got some guys that need to get their bats a little bit sharper and we hope we can all click on the same cylinders eventually, that's our goal."
UCLA will send either freshman Thomas Jacquez or sophomore John Phillips to the mound against the Toreros. Phillips is currently 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA. Phillips has been effective in his pitching appearances this year, most recently making a brief appearance on Sunday against the Cardinal. Jacquez has only appeared once this season and has not started a game for UCLA. Along with ace Jim Parque, Jacquez was a highly coveted recruit who eventually signed with the Bruins.
"Everybody has a bad game now and then, or a bad inning, but on the whole our pitching has been good," Adams said. "I think each guy who has gone out there has done a good job, and nobody has been lousy."
Echoing a recurrent theme to the season, the collective character of the Bruins has responded well to adversity of late. Leading 5-2 entering the ninth inning last Friday, UCLA was sent reeling when closer Bobby Kazmirski gave up a grand slam to Cardinal third baseman Steve Carver and lost 6-5. In a display of unusual mettle for such a young team, the Bruins came back from the heartbreaking loss to emerge victorious Saturday.
"I know the guys feel frustrated at having lost the series to Stanford. I just hope that they take their frustration and their anger out on our opponents," said Adams. "This team has been intense all year long. I don't like to see them up and down, I like to see them maintain a consistent level."