Baseball to face Aztecs’ pitching army
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 16, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17, 1996
After Tuesday rain out against Hawaii, Bruins ready to roll
By Yoni Tamler
Daily Bruin Staff
Maybe the UCLA baseball team should consider playing its games
in the Mojave desert.
The Bruins were rained out for the fifth time this season
Tuesday afternoon, when steady precipitation in the bottom of the
first inning forced a cancellation of their game against Hawaii.
Was this mother nature’s way of sparing the Bruins another Tuesday
snafu?
Whatever the reason for the dampness, UCLA (23-15, 14-7 Six-Pac)
will get another shot at a non-league, mid-week victory today at 5
p.m., when the Bruins face San Diego State at Jackie Robinson
Stadium.
"(San Diego State) always has a good team," UCLA head coach Gary
Adams said. "They’re the kind of team that can beat you on any
given day, but they’re a little inconsistent. They run a lot; they
like to steal third and second, and they have very deep pitching.
It’s gonna be a long game."
In addition to pitching depth, the Aztecs have Team USA’s
starting first baseman in their lineup, junior Travis Lee. The
premier first baseman in the country, Lee (.372, nine home runs, 46
RBIs) figures to be among the top three or so picks in the 1996
major league draft.
"(Lee) could be the best all-around player eligible for the
draft," Adams said. "He does everything well  fields, hits,
runs, throws  a complete player, a true All-American."
The Aztecs (26-17-2) may start either Marty Heminger (1-0, 4.44
ERA) or left-handed senior Justin Rayment, but plan to use six or
seven different pitchers overall, with each going no longer than an
inning or two.
For UCLA, Ryan O’Toole (1-2, 6.33) will open the game on the
mound, preceding a battery of short-relievers. Nick St. George, who
pitched in Tuesday’s aborted game, may also get the call in relief.
If not, he will be available to pitch in Saturday’s game against
Arizona State.
