Baseball looking to run over Toreros

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."