Baseball outmatched by Pepperdine

Published: Thursday, May 11, 1995

By Yoni Tamler

The Pepperdine baseball team exploited its talented pitching staff Wednesday night against UCLA, handily shutting down the Bruins, 5-1. The Waves scored all of their runs in the first four innings en route to their victory over UCLA, which was coming off a win against San Diego State on Tuesday.

In the only other meeting between these two teams this season, UCLA whipped Pepperdine (32-17-1 overall) by a score of 5-0, ending an 11 for 12 winning spree. Not so Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Throughout the first half of the game, UCLA (25-26) was quiet on offense but serving it up on defense. Pepperdine made waves, so to speak, in the first inning. A two-out base hit by infielder Gerardo Gonzales drove in two runs to open up their lead on the Bruins to 2-0.

While Pepperdine starter Randy Wolf was holding the Bruins to one hit through four innings, the Waves rallied with numerous bloop singles in the top of the fourth, upping their lead, 5-0.

The Bruins finally got it going in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with two outs for Zac Ammirato. But the junior third baseman flied out to end the inning. UCLA's Ryan O'Toole replaced starting pitcher Ryan Lynch after Lynch surrendered 10 hits and five earned runs. O'Toole would go on to hurl three scoreless innings of relief.

In the bottom of the eighth UCLA again came up short. With two outs, right fielder Eric Byrnes singled to load the bases with slugger Troy Glaus on deck. Glaus flied out deep to center field, leaving the Bruins empty-handed for the second time.

UCLA had one last chance for a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Gar Vallone led off with a single, and second baseman Brett Nista hit into a force play at second. After pinch-hitter Mike Seal flied out, Waves pitcher Eric Brubaker beaned Jon Heinrichs, bringing up Ammirato. Ammirato extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single that drove in Nista to end the scoring.

"We lost to a pretty good team, and they're known for their great pitching, which is the reason they're in first place," UCLA head coach Gary Adams said.

Senior shortstop Vallone said that his three-hit performance was inspired by Tuesday's game, when he was benched for the first time this season so other members of the team could get some playing time.

"(The benching) made me appreciate playing that much more," Vallone said. "After sitting yesterday and the emotions I felt, it feels good to get it back."