Wildcats teach Bruins errors of their ways

Friday, April 10, 1998

Wildcats teach Bruins errors of their ways

BASEBALL: UCLA focuses on postseason; Atkins ties university’s
hitting record

By Vytas Mazeika

Daily Bruin Staff

The determination and heart of the UCLA baseball team was tested
Thursday night against Arizona. They’ll be tested again
tonight.

The Wildcats (27-16 overall, 8-11 Six-Pac) came into Jackie
Robinson Stadium and defeated a flat Bruin squad 10-4.

UCLA (15-23, 8-14) committed four errors on the night –
including two in a five-run seventh inning that gave Arizona enough
of a cushion to win comfortably.

"We seemed flat," senior second baseman Nick Theodorou said.
"This would’ve been a great win for us if we would’ve come out and
put something together."

The Bruins needed to keep their four game winning streak going
in order to strengthen their bid for a playoff spot. The loss to
the Wildcats, though, puts a damper on their postseason hopes as
they fall 2 1/2 games behind Arizona in the conference.

Both starting pitchers (James Johnson for Arizona and Paul Diaz
for UCLA) went 6 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs. The
problem was that Diaz also allowed six unearned runs.

Last Friday the Bruins came back from a 12-2 deficit to Cal and
after falling behind 10-1 in the seventh inning the Bruins did
score three more runs. But UCLA slugger Eric Valent struck out
looking on an inside slider from Arizona’s Ray Moskau in the bottom
of the seventh.

About the only thing UCLA could cheer about was freshman third
baseman Garrett Atkins’ eighth inning opposite field single.
Atkins, who had one of the two errors to open the floodgates in the
seventh inning, extended his hitting streak to 25 games – tying the
school record.

"It was nice to get the record, but it would’ve been nicer to
get it under better circumstances," Atkins said.

Because the Bruins need all the wins they can get, UCLA head
coach Gary Adams was especially disappointed by the team’s attitude
early in the game.

"You have to come to the field to win," Adams said. "At least
you have to come to the field to play hard. And it appeared, at
least from the outset, that we didn’t do that. And my question to
the team was, ‘Why not?’ It’s hard to understand why not."

"It’s hard for me to understand because I expect so much. I
think this team is capable of putting it together and being a good
team."

Although the team has 15 freshmen on its roster, and at points
nine of them have started for the Bruins, Adams emphasized that
youth should not continue to be an excuse night after night.

Adams wants his players to take responsibility and play like
professionals. He wants players to be ready to make plays on every
pitch.

"A professional is a guy who is ready to play all 162 games to
the best of his capabilities," Adams said. "That’s the difference
between the professionals and the amateurs, and I want the guys to
play like they’re professionals with the pride and effort of
playing to their capabilities every game."

Adams also mentioned how the team never surprises him when they
play well – only when they perform below his expectations of
them.

Today against Arizona Atkins won’t be concerned about his
hitting streak – he has only one expectation.

"I expect to win," Atkins said.

Adams just expects them to play like professionals.AARON
TOUT/Daily Bruin

Shortstop Chase Utley tries to beat the tag at first base.