UCLA to face struggling UCSB team

BASEBALL vs. UC Santa Barbara Today 2 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Stadium CONNIE WU/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Web
adaptation by Todd Shintani

By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff

The UCLA baseball team looks to extend its winning streak to
seven when it hosts UC Santa Barbara today at Jackie Robinson
Stadium.

The Gauchos (1-2) enter the game cold after a doubleheader
against Oregon State was rained out Saturday and Sunday. UCSB
opened the season with a win at San Jose State, but dropped the
next two of the three-game series.

In their most recent game, the Gauchos gave up 23 runs after
gaining an 8-2 lead by the third inning. The defense committed 12
errors in the series.

The Bruins (6-2) are coming from the opposite direction. UCLA is
riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak after sweeping
UNLV last weekend. During the series, the Bruins outscored the
Rebels 27-6.

The Bruins will have to avoid looking beyond the Gauchos toward
their weekend series against rival USC.

“We have a big weekend ahead of us,” said shortstop
Josh Canales. “It is important we don’t overlook
UCSB.”

The Bruins haven’t overlooked anyone lately. After
dropping its first two games of the season, UCLA has won six,
scoring in double digits five times.

Last year, the Bruins took two games from the Gauchos,
outscoring Santa Barbara 27-6. Even so, the UCLA coaching staff is
not taking the Gauchos lightly.

“My off day is going to cover sitting on the phone, trying
to get some scouting reports,” assistant coach Vince
Beringhele said.

What Beringhele will find is that the Gaucho defense, which was
supposed to be the backbone of the team, has struggled while the
offense has performed better than expected.

So far the bats have been solid for UCSB. Against San Jose
State, the team had 18 extra-base hits, including six home runs.
First baseman Tyler Von Schell led UCSB against the Spartans, going
7 for 11 with two doubles, two homers, and a team-high six runs
batted in.

For UCLA, the individual hitting leader is Brian Baron. Baron
has exceeded all expectations since his return from a knee injury a
year ago. The senior is 14 for 23 and with a slugging percentage of
.913 on the year. Santa Barbara pitchers will be hard-pressed to
contain Baron and the rest of the Bruins, who have a team batting
average of .357.

Gaucho pitchers have struggled this year, compiling a 10.80 ERA
to date. UCLA has a 4.13 team ERA.

Despite the obvious difference in statistical performance,
Tuesday’s game is important if the Bruins hope to maintain
momentum heading into an important nonconference series against
USC.

“We’re trying to beat UC Santa Barbara, and then
we’ll be concerned with USC,” head coach Gary Adams
said. “The first thing on the agenda is to beat UC Santa
Barbara.”