UCLA drops heartbreaker to ASU

Published: Monday, May 1, 1995

Baseball takes Sun Devils two of three, but post season chances low

By Ross Bersot

The old adage, two out of three isn't bad, may have meant something to the UCLA baseball team earlier this season.

Not now. Not when the playoffs are on the line.

A three-game sweep of Arizona State (33-19 overall, 13-14 Six-Pac) this weekend in Jackie Robinson Stadium would have all but guaranteed the Bruins a berth in the NCAA Regional Playoffs. After winning the first two games against the Sun Devils, UCLA (25-22, 12-15) carried a 7-6 advantage into the ninth inning of Sunday's finale, seemingly on the way to the crucial third-straight win.

Instead, ASU scored on a rare error by UCLA second baseman Gar Vallone to send the game into extra innings, where the visitor eventually prevailed 8-7.

After the Sun Devils scored in the top of the first, the Bruins evened the score in the bottom of the inning with a two-out bomb by Tim DeCinces. His team-leading 11th home run of the year tied the game 1-1.

After two quick outs to begin the bottom of the second, the home team scored two runs to take its first lead, 3-1. Zak Ammirato reached first on a sharp shot up the middle, bringing up leadoff man Mike Seal.

Following Seal's single, designated hitter Chad Matoian popped up along the third-base line. What should have been an easy play for any of three Sun Devil infielders was muffed by first baseman Darren Troilo. In addition to allowing Matoian to reach base safely, Troilo's error scored Ammirato and advanced Seal.

Another ASU miscue, a wild pitch by Kaipo Spenser gave Seal room to score from third.

Trying to make up for the two unearned runs given up in the second, the visitors scored one run apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to even the score 3-3.

Thanks to an error by Mikel Moreno in centerfield on a Troy Glaus line drive, UCLA loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Sacrifices by Vallone and Jon Heinrichs scored Pete Zamora, who had walked, and Byrnes, who had singled. Glaus crossed the plate on another Spenser wild pitch to put the Bruins up 6-3, which is the way the inning ended.

Once again ASU matched the home team, this time with a three-run outburst in the seventh. A two-run single to center by Matt Frick scored Travis Flowers and Cody McKay. Frick was waved in on a Jake Steinkemper stand-up double, tying the game 6-6.

UCLA's final run came on Heinrichs' second sacrifice fly of the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Zamora, who had reached on a single to center.

Leading 7-6 in the top of the ninth, the Bruins only needed three more outs to complete the sweep. Zamora moved to the mound from first base after Michael Caravelli walked Kent to begin the inning.

Flowers advanced Robbie Kent on a bunt but was put out at first for the first out. Zamora got McKay to hit a chopper straight to Vallone, who misplayed the ball on a hop, allowing Kent to score, tying the game 7-7. Zamora retired the next two batters to end the inning.

"It was a big hop and (McKay) is a pretty decent runner," Vallone said. "I was worried more about the throw than catching the ball.

"It's the worst time in the world to do it. I'm a senior on the team and the out is a routine ground ball. We needed this game to go to regionals and I just didn't get it done."

Neither team was able to score another run until the Sun Devils notched the go-ahead run in top of the 11th on a McKay RBI line drive to center. A hard shot by Vallone in the bottom of that inning seemed to be on its way through the gap into left field until somehow in a diving stab ASU third baseman McKay caught the ball for the second out. McKay's catch caught Glaus in the middle of first and second, creating an easy double play to end the game 8-7.

Neither starter factored in the decision as Ryan Bradley (5-2), on the mound for the last three innings got the win and Ryan Lynch (2-3), took the loss in two innings of relief.

"It's tough. The guys gave tremendous effort. No question about that," Adams said. "Our guys really battled. Both teams had their chances, we just couldn't hold them there at the end."

A loss in the third game was like swallowing Castor Oil for the Bruins, considering the previous two victories. On Friday, UCLA dominated the Sun Devils 7-3. Rick Heineman (6-4, 4.50 ERA) tabbed the win, while Billy Neal (5-7) suffered the loss.

Saturday saw the home team crawl back from a 6-0 deficit to triumph 8-7. Nick St. George (4-1, 4.85) picked up the win in relief for the Bruins. Chad Day (1-1), who worked the final four and two-thirds innings of the game dropped his first decision of the season for ASU.