UCLA baseball seeks to rebound from early loss
Baylor
Today, 6 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Stadium
No TV info
Info: Baylor and UCLA kick off a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 24, 2012 12:44 a.m.
Take Two.
The popular pair of words often heard at the School of Theater, Film and Television in North Campus’ Melnitz Hall or in nearby Hollywood signify that there was an error or miscue in the first attempt at shooting the scene and a second try is on the way.
While the UCLA baseball team won’t be appearing on the set of “Bull Durham” or “Field of Dreams” anytime soon, the Bruins want a redo and they’ll get their chance starting today at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
New-look No. 22 UCLA debuted last weekend at “The Jack” by going 1-2 against Maryland, a team that the Bruins agreed was beatable, even sweep-able, but, as was the case for much of last season, untimely lapses at the plate and a lack of support from the bullpen had the Terrapins headed back to the East Coast with a series win that few saw coming.
“It’s baseball,” said UCLA coach John Savage, a baseball lifer. “If you dwell on the last game, you’re not going to have the focus you need for the next one. I think what happened this past weekend is a learning lesson. We didn’t play very well but it’s a new week.”
After getting the bats warmed up again in a 19-7 win at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, the Bruins’ second chance at defending their home turf comes against a team just a few spots away in Baseball America’s top 25 rankings, No. 25 Baylor.
“We’re going to respect Baylor,” Savage said. “We respect everybody we play but all you have to do is look at the top 25 and you see Baylor. They’re very well-coached and they’re a good team.”
Baylor started its season by sweeping Oral Roberts at home and followed up with wins over No. 15 TCU on Tuesday and Texas State on Wednesday.
Junior outfielder Jeff Gelalich said the Bruins are sticking with the one-game approach that helped them win 22 games in a row when Gelalich was a freshman in 2010.
“We have to take this weekend game by game,” Gelalich said. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves too much.”
While hopes of starting the season 22-0 have already been dashed, the Bruins know they have to protect their home turf. A series win over Baylor would certainly be a boon to UCLA’s NCAA Tournament resume.
“I’m not going to say it’s embarrassing to lose two out of three at home because (Maryland) competed and did a nice job, but it’s a wake-up call,” said junior catcher Tyler Heineman.
Savage will stick with the same sophomore rotation he used last week, which saw Adam Plutko throw Friday, Nick Vander Tuig follow Saturday and Zack Weiss on Sunday. Vander Tuig turned in perhaps the least impressive performance last weekend, surrendering five runs in five innings but was miraculously the only pitcher to come away with a win.
Plutko did not earn a decision despite throwing seven innings of scoreless ball and Weiss was tagged with a loss because his offensive counterparts could only push across five hits.
No matter who’s on the bump, Savage knows his team must prove itself at the plate.
“We really feel we have a good offensive team,” Savage said. “We weren’t offensive this past weekend, everybody knows that. We have to be better than that. It was a disappointing weekend but we have a very good Baylor team coming in and we can redeem ourselves.”
