UCLA players show off their bats

Monday, February 8, 1999

UCLA players show off their bats

RECAP: Dormant team comes alive in series against Georgia
Tech

By Evan Lovett

Daily Bruin Staff

For the first time this season, the UCLA baseball team is
performing up to expectations.

Ranked 16th nationally in preseason polls, the Bruins faltered
in their early games, heading into a crucial series with No. 7
Georgia Tech with a 2-4 record and concerns about the slumping
offense.

The Yellow Jackets, however, provided the elixir for whatever
was ailing the Bruins.

The Bruin offense feasted on Yellow Jacket (2-4) pitching all
weekend, scoring 26 runs in the three game set at Jackie Robinson
Stadium. The Bruins were sharp on defense as well, committing only
one error on the weekend.

"We’re starting to come together. Everything’s hitting on all
cylinders," said sophomore outfielder Bill Scott.

In the Friday afternoon game, UCLA started sophomore lefthander
Ryan Carter on the hill. Carter (0-1) pitched a solid six innings,
allowing only five hits while giving up five runs.

The "Tech Nine" countered with All-American southpaw Chuck
Crowder, who was promptly thrashed for ten hits and eight runs over
his six-plus innings of work.

Adam Berry led off the seventh inning with the first Bruin
homerun of the year, a 429-foot shot to left field that provided
foreshadowing for the rest of the weekend.

"It felt good to get us out of our slump," Berry said.

Unfortunately, Berry’s homerun also foreshadowed a seven-run
Yellow Jacket explosion in the eighth inning highlighted by a Mark
Teixeira homerun, leading to the final score of 13-8.

Brian Strelitz (0-1), who had been so dependable out of the
Bruin bullpen this year, had a horrible outing, allowing seven hits
and six runs in a little more than one inning of work.

The runs were the first that Strelitz had given up this year in
his two outings.

On Saturday, the Bruins came out with a little extra motivation,
as freshman bonus baby Josh Karp took the hill for his home
debut.

Karp (1-1) pitched five strong innings, striking out seven and
allowing three runs.

He was relieved by sophomore lefthander Bobby Roe, who threw
four nearly perfect innings, giving up only one hit and two
walks.

"They looked good out there," Adams said, "It’s good to see our
pitchers solid throughout the game."

Offensively, the Bruins exploded for 12 runs, including three on
a pair of blasts by Berry, a solo shot in the second and a two-run
job in the seventh. Sophomore second baseman Chase Utley added to
the Bruin onslaught with a two-run blast of his own, his first on
the season.

Senior catcher Jason Green added a pair of hits, continuing his
torrid hitting of late. Green is 6 for 13 with eight RBI in his
last three games.

The win also provided coach Gary Adams with a personal
milestone, his 800th career victory at UCLA.

"The win proves how old I am," Adams said after the game.

"But it’s not about me or my 800th win – it’s a testament to the
coaches, players and assistants that I’ve had in my 25 years
here."

Sunday’s game solidified the Bruin turnaround in this young
season.

With sophomore righthander Jon Brandt (2-0) taking the hill, the
Bruins came out like a team possessed, playing flawless defense,
hitting with stellar consistency and pitching with a vengeance.

Brandt, rebounding from a subpar start on Tuesday against
Pepperdine (2.1 innings, 5 runs), pitched a gem, going six strong
innings and allowing only one run, despite allowing seven
walks.

"I still walked too many guys," Brandt said, "but coming back
from Tuesday’s outing, it gives me and the team some
confidence."

Junior Dan Keller relieved Brandt, pitching three scoreless
innings to earn his first save of the season.

Bill Scott was the story on offense for the Bruins, slugging his
first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh inning,
to give the Bruins a 6-1 lead. Scott also added a double, his
fourth on the year.

Utley provided the Bruins with another home run – a majestic,
433-foot jack that may have erased all memories of a Bruin
offensive slump.

"Guys are starting to get more comfortable," Scott said. "We
worked really hard."

Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall was surprised with the Bruin
performance this weekend. "I knew they were talented, but for a
young team to play as well is they did is tremendous."

"It was the best medicine we could have had," said Adams,
speaking of the three game-set versus Georgia Tech. "We put
together a good series in all three areas – hitting, pitching, and
defense. I hope this sets the tone for the rest of the season."

UCLA will take this momentum into Tuesday’s game at UC Santa
Barbara. Carter will take the hill for the Bruins, as they look to
continue their impressive run back into the national polls.BAHMAN
FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin

Senior catcher Jason Cook gets ready to run after bunting the
ball in the Bruins’ victory over Georgia Tech.

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