Bruins game to pitch hard ball against UC Riverside

NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Staff Freshman David
Johnson pitches against Washington State earlier this
season.

By Jeff Agase
Daily Bruin Staff
[email protected]

If the UCLA baseball team gives up, say, ten runs in the first
inning of tonight’s game against UC Riverside, don’t
head for the Jackie Robinson Stadium exits.

The way the weekend went for the Bruins (24-28), a deficit
unseen this side of the Detroit Tigers means they’re just
getting started. Friday and Sunday against Arizona, the Bruins gave
up eight and nine runs respectively, in the first inning, only to
rally back for a one-run loss Friday and a 18-14 win Sunday.

“Our effort was unbelievable all weekend, to be down like
that in two of the three games and never give up,” senior
catcher/designated hitter Casey Grzecka said. “It’s
been our trademark all year.”

But it hadn’t been UCLA’s trademark to hit like
opposing pitchers are hurling beach balls in their direction. But
the team combined to hit a blistering .361 in four games last week,
three of them wins.

Ten errors in the three-game series almost negated the offensive
outburst, which included a combined 23 for 39 from Brandon Averill,
Billy Susdorf, and Grzecka. Because of all the defensive mishaps,
Bruin pitchers allowed gobs of runs but still combined to post an
ERA of 4.66 ““ lustrous by college baseball standards.

“That was my main focus after Friday night’s
game,” UCLA head coach Gary Adams said. “I told them,
“˜let’s work at being quick to overcome those bad things
that happen.’ I used the word “˜drainage,’ and
said, “˜let’s not let this drain us.'”

Mike Kunes (7-3, 4.40 ERA) takes the hill for the 6 p.m. start,
and will likely see limited action so that he can be used this
weekend against Stanford. Kunes had a rocky start last Friday
against Arizona, allowing six earned runs in a third of an inning
of work.

UCR is 28-23 and took the third game of a weekend series against
No. 17 Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins won the first meeting Apr.
16 4-2 in Riverside.

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Notes: Freshman Wes Whisler was named Co-Pac-10 Player of the
Week. The first baseman/pitcher from Noblesville, Ind. went 7 for
19 with three home runs. His 13 homers on the year put him just two
behind UCLA freshman single-season record holder Chase Utley.