Loss to Pepperdine ends win streak

By Dylan Hernandez

Daily Bruin Contributor

Despite losing to Pepperdine 7-6 Tuesday, the UCLA baseball team
was not that disturbed. The midweek loss was, in the minds of the
Bruins, largely preparation for this weekend’s Pac-10 matchup
with California.

Nonetheless, UCLA head coach Gary Adams assumed full
responsibility for the loss, which broke the team’s
three-game winning streak.

“Pin the loss on me,” Adams said. “It’s
my job to match up our pitchers with hitters that they’ll
have success against. I didn’t do that.”

Adams was referring to his first pitching change, in which he
took out right-handed starter Jon Brandt with the bases loaded, two
outs and right-handed-hitting catcher Dane Sardinha at the plate.
Brandt, who was on a tight pitch count, was replaced by freshman
lefty Mike Kunes, even though Adams had a right-hander in the
bullpen to play the righty-righty matchup.

The All-America candidate promptly hit his 16th homer of the
season, a grand slam that gave the Waves a 4-2 lead. Damon Katz
doubled in another run to make the score 5-2.

“I should have had (right-hander) Kevin Jerkens in the
bullpen,” Adams said. “But we already had Kunes warmed
up and ready to go in the fourth. That was my fault.”

UCLA did strike back in the following inning, however, as
designated hitter Matt Pearl and second baseman Chase Utley reached
base on a single and a double. Both were then brought across the
plate on a double by first baseman Garrett Atkins.

The score remained at 5-4 until Bruin Bill Scott evened it in
the top of the seventh. Scott, facing reliever Noah Lowery, jacked
one over the right-field wall to record his team-leading 18th home
run of the year.

But Sardinha quickly reclaimed the lead for the Waves, driving
in Woody Cliffords a half-inning later.

Then in the eighth, outfielder Austin Evans hit a sacrifice fly
to left, bringing home Sardinha’s brother, Duke, to increase
Pepperdine’s lead to 7-5.

Atkins later pulled UCLA within one, shooting a dart down the
third-base line with runners on the corners. The ball, which
appeared to be headed into the corners for an extra base hit, was
snuffed out by Duke Sardinha. While Utley was thrown out at second,
shortstop Josh Canales was able to score. Atkins reached first on
the fielder’s choice.

Scott, who followed Atkins, was walked, bringing two-time Pac-10
Player of the Week Forrest Johnson to hit with two on and two out.
But all Johnson could do was pop up to Duke Sardinha.

The win was the Waves’ (30-19) fifth straight.

“In the midweek games, we seem to have a different
attitude,” said Bruin pitcher Ryan Carter, who threw one
inning. “We wanted to win, but today was a tune-up for
Cal.”

Scott felt the same way.

“We can’t worry about it too much,” he
said.

The Bruins (28-21) can be assured they will have one less
concern this weekend: should they need Brandt, he will be ready and
rested.