University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Long Beach St
Baseball Falls to Long Beach State at Home, 9-7
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
March 17, 1999
WESTWOOD, Calif. - The UCLA Bruins lost for the sixth time in eight midweek games against local teams, falling 9-7 to the #15 Long Beach State 49ers (12-7, 3-0 in the Big West) Tuesday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Trailing 9-6 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore 2b Chase Utley hit his second solo jack of the game to cut the deficit to two runs and keep hope alive. Thats all the Bruins (15-16, 1-2 in the Pac-10) could muster, however, as 49er sophomore reliever rhp Jeff Leuenberger grabbed his fourth save of the year in pitching the final inning. Utleys first homer was a solo shot in the second inning. The UCLA freshman home run record-holder (15 in 98) now has seven on the year.
The Bruins knotted the contest at six apiece with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore 1b Garrett Atkins slapped a two-run double to left-center and sophomore lf Bill Scott launched his team-high eigth homer of the year, a towering two-run shot that tied the game at six. Long Beach State, however, reacted with three runs in the eighth, providing it with just enough insurance to outlast UCLA.
Bruin sophomore cf Charles Merricks provided those in attendance with an over-the-wall- "Sportscenter"- highlight-reel-circus catch in the fifth to rob 49er senior c Mike Hota of a solo home run in the fifth. The catch prevented CSULB from taking a 6-2 lead at the time. Merricks was also solid at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Once again, UCLAs 3-4-5 hitters (Atkins, Utley, Scott) provided much of the offense against the 49ers. The trio accounted for seven of the Bruins 11 hits, four of its seven runs, and all of its RBI.
With the defeat, UCLA falls to 37-18 all-time versus the 49ers.
Next up for the Bruins is a date with the #6 Pepperdine Waves (20-2), tomorrow (Mar. 17 @2:00pm) at Malibu. Sophomore rhp Jon Brandt (5-2, 2.79) is expected start for UCLA against a Wave to be determined. On February 2, the Waves spoiled UCLAs home opener with an 8-6 victory. The 49ers, meanwhile, travel to Las Cruces, NM to take on the New Mexico State Aggies, March 19-21.
