Baseball outmatched by Pepperdine

Baseball outmatched by Pepperdine

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."