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Whisler pitched three innings, allowing 10 runs in UCLA’s only loss in the series.

Despite wins over Washington St., coach’s future uncertain

Lack of recent appearances in playoffs may lead athletic director to fire Adams

Jeff Agase
Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2003

After an 18-7 win over Washington State in Pullman on Sunday, the only certainty for Gary Adams and his UCLA baseball team is that the 2003 season is over.

Whether Adams – who finished his 29th season as head coach of the Bruins with a 28-31 record – will be back for a 30th is unclear. UCLA missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and despite overwhelming support from his players – many of whom played their best series of the season this past weekend – Adams’ job is hardly secure.

UCLA came out with nothing to play for but pride against the Washington State Cougars (19-37, 7-18), but made a statement with two convincing victories. On Friday night, the Bruins put up nine runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to a 21-3 stomping with the help of junior starter Casey Janssen’s six strong innings. Janssen allowed just one run on six hits. Sophomore first baseman Wes Whisler collected three hits and four RBI as the squad erupted for its highest run total of the season.

UCLA dropped Saturday’s matinee 15-2 but came back on Sunday for the 18-7 victory in their last game of the season. Senior Brandon Averill hit for the cycle, becoming the first Bruin since Garrett Atkins to do so.

The squad posted a season-high 25 hits and displayed the sort of offensive firepower they will need next season. In both weekend victories, every Bruin batter got one hit and scored a run.

Despite the successful weekend, it might not be enough to convince UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero to retain Adams for another season.

Guerrero will still look closely at the state of the UCLA baseball program, just as he did with the football and men’s basketball programs prior to firing head coaches Bob Toledo and Steve Lavin.

Last week Guerrero refused to give Adams a vote of confidence despite what he acknowledged as very strong alumni support for the veteran skipper. Guerrero was out of town all weekend fulfilling his duties as a part of the NCAA baseball selection committee, but he will likely meet with Adams early this week and then make a swift decision about his fate.

Adams said last week that he has no plans to resign and hopes to be back in Westwood next year as usual.

“I have a good relationship with Guerrero,” Adams told the Daily Bruin last week. “Hey, baseball players know how to communicate.”