University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Georgia Tech
Bullpen Suffers First Setback as Bruins Lose, 13-8
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
February 5, 1999
WESTWOOD, Calif. - The usually stingy UCLA bullpen lost some of it's miserly charm as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-2) blasted it for eight runs (all earned) in the contest's final three innings to overcome a three-run deficit. UCLA (2-5) tagged Tech starter Chuck Crowder for eight runs (seven earned) on ten hits, but fell flat against freshman Rhett Parrott who earned his first collegiate victory, allowing only one hit and no runs in pitching the final 2.2 innings of the game. Prior to this game, the Bruin pitching staff was un-homered upon thus far in '99. Tech changed that by hitting three over the fence at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Senior Eric McQueen hit a three-run shot off Bruin starter Ryan Carter in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. The homer ended a 57 inning homerless streak posted by the Bruin pitching staff since the start of the season. Freshman Mark Teixeira added another three-run shot off fellow freshman Kurt Birkins to cap off a seven-run eighth inning that put the Yellow Jackets up for good. The shot came on Birkins' first pitch in relief of another freshman, Brian Strelitz.
Sophomore Bryan Prince provided an insurance run for the Jackets with a solo shot to deep-center off Birkins in the ninth. UCLA hit it's first homerun of the season as redshirt freshman Adam Berry took Crowder deep to left-center with a solo shot in the seventh inning. Berry's first collegiate homerun would ignite a rally that scored six runs for UCLA, turning a three-run disadvantage into a three-run advantage. The barrage was comprised of six hits, including three doubles, Berry's homer, and three walks. At one point three out of four Bruins doubled, including freshman Randall Shelley who earned his first collegiate extra-base hit.
UCLA Head Coach Gary Adams lost his second straight bid for 800 victories in 24 seasons managing the Bruins. His record stands at 799-648-7. Under Adams, the last time UCLA lost it's first two home games of the season was in 1996 at the hands of CS Northridge and UNLV. Tomorrow's game is scheduled for a 1 pm start with sophomore LHP Cory Vance (0-1, 0.00) on the mound for the Jackets versus former high school phenom and current Bruin freshman Josh Karp (0-1, 11.25).
