Baseball ready to battle ASU
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 18, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 1996
Bruins need series victory to keep hold on second placeBy Brian
Purcell
Daily Bruin Contributor
While the No. 13 UCLA baseball team spent the week honing its
hitting and fielding skills in preparation for this weekend’s
three-game series with Arizona State, suspicion prevails that the
Sun Devils were busy perfecting their kicking and scratching
techniques.
Arizona State players have spent a lot of time with their dukes
up this year, and perhaps not enough time catching and throwing the
baseball. The Sun Devils have been involved in brouhahas with both
USC and UCLA this year, with each of the incidents resulting in
player suspensions.
The Sun Devils bring a full roster to Jackie Robinson Stadium
this weekend, but they also carry a disappointing 9-12 record in
Six-Pac play. UCLA head coach Gary Adams does not expect a repeat
of the last series between the teams, Â then, Sun Devil
pitcher Ryan Bradley incited a beanball war, resulting in a hit in
the head with a pitch and a subsequent ambulance trip for UCLA’s
Troy Glaus and a four-game suspension for Bradley. Adams does,
however, expect to walk away with some wins.
"We’re not going to try to beat them in a fight, we’re going to
try to beat them at the game of baseball," Adams said. "This is a
very important series for us to win."
The Bruins (23-16 overall, 14-7 in Six-Pac) are in second place
in league, three games behind USC. They took two out of three from
the Sun Devils in the March 29-31 series played in Tempe.
Bruin ace left-hander Jim Parque (8-0) will take the mound in
Friday’s 7 p.m. contest. Saturday and Sunday’s starters are
right-hander Rick Heinemann (1-3) and left-hander Pete Zamora
(5-0). Both games begin at 1 p.m.
With only nine games left for both teams in Six-Pac play, this
one looms as a crucial series. No. 21 ASU is in an almost urgent
situation, as the team is one game out of third place. Third in the
conference would probably earn them a spot in regionals, an
incentive Adams believes will prompt them to leave their brawling
attitude back in Tempe.
"I know that both teams want this series real bad," Adams said.
"I don’t think that either team is interested in fighting. We plan
to root for our team, and that is it."
PATRICK LAM /Daily Bruin
The last time UCLA faced off with ASU, Troy Glaus was beaned in
the head, resulting in the suspension of ASU pitcher Ryan
Bradley.
"We’re not going to try to beat them in a fight, we’re going to
try to beat them at the game of baseball."
Gary Adams
UCLA Baseball Head Coach
