University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Loyola Marymnt
Ninth-Inning Magic Runs Out as Bruins Fall to Lions, 7-5
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
April 14, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The visiting Loyola Marymount Lions held off a furious UCLA rally in the bottom of the ninth to escape with a 7-5 victory over the Bruins Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
With Loyola leading 7-2, the stage was set for UCLA's third ninth-inning comeback win over the Lions this season. Unlike February 19 in San Diego and March 9 at Loyola Marymount, however, the Bruins failed to erase the ninth-inning deficit that stood before them. The Bruins managed three runs on two hits and two walks, including an RBI double by senior ss Jack Santora and an RBI single by sophomore 2b Chase Utley. Junior ph Aldo Pinto walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Lion reliever Ben Bonilla, who grabbed his fourth win of the season to improve to 4-4.
UCLA sophomore lhp Ryan Carter, in his first start since February 20 versus Texas Tech, was given an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a two-out 2 RBI single by sophomore 1b Garrett Atkins off Lion starter Mike Gehrlein. Atkins was UCLA's star offensively with a 3-for-4 evening that included his second collegiate triple (eighth inning) and first of the year. LMU, however, answered with single-run second, third, and fourth innings to capture the lead for good.
With the victory, LMU (21-16, 9-5 WCC) narrowly avoids a three-game season sweep and a third straight ninth-inning loss to UCLA (18-23, 2-7 Pac-10). Down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth at the San Diego Baseball Classic on February 19, UCLA scored six runs in the bottom half to triumph 6-5 over the Lions. On March 9 at Loyola Marymount, the Bruins again scored six runs in the ninth, erasing a three-run deficit and eventually winning 12-10. LMU's victory also enabled the Lions to gain a 27-26 all-time series advantage over the Bruins (in the 25-year Gary Adams era).
Tuesday's loss spoiled UCLA's fourth bid to record a season-high four straight victories. The Bruins have won three games in a row four times this season.
Player Note: Junior rf Brian Baron's 11-game hitting streak, which began on March 14 at Arizona, came to an end Tuesday night against Lions. The hitting streak was his third double-digit hitting streak of the season. He had a ten-game hitting streak from January 24 through February 13, and a thirteen-game hitting streak from February 17 through March 12. This season, Baron has not gone more than two games without getting a hit and has hit safely in 34 of 39 games played.
Next up for UCLA is a crucial Pac-10 showdown with rival Arizona State (32-12, 8-4 Pac-10) April 16-18 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. KIEV 870am will have the (delayed) call from Westwood on Friday night beginning at 8:00pm (first pitch is at 6:00pm), while Sunday's game (1:00pm) can be heard live over the internet by accessing www.uclabruins.com. Saturday's 1 o'clock contest will not be aired. Starting pitchers for this series will be announced later this week.
