University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Oregon St
Baseball Downs Oregon State, 8-6
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
May 9, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA Bruins hit a season-high five home runs in an 8-6 victory over Oregon State Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Solo shots were hit by senior SS Jack Santora (6th home run of the season), sophomore 2B Chase Utley (14), sophomore LF Bill Scott (21), and sophomore 3B/OF Nick Lyon (3), while sophomore 1B Garrett Atkins, who was 4-for-4 on the day, hit what turned out to be the difference, a two-run shot in the seventh, his eighth of the year. The streaking Bruins (28-27, 12-9, 3rd place Pac-10) have won 11 of their last thirteen Pac-10 games, including four straight series victories (two sweeps), and 13 of the last 18 overall in their quest for the postseason. Oregon State, meanwhile, drops to 16-35 overall and 4-17 in Pac-10 action.
Sophomore RHP Chad Cislak, taking over for starter sophomore LHP Bobby Roe with one out in the seventh, held the Beavers scoreless in the final 2.2 IP, allowing just one hit and striking five. Cislak, who struck out the side in the ninth, improved to 5-2 on the season. He has won five out of his last six decisions.
The Bruins jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four innings of play courtesy of solo shots by Utley (1st inn.), Scott (3rd inn.), and Lyon (4th inn.). Oregon State, however, fighting hard after 15-0 humiliation yesterday at the hands of UCLA, came back to take the lead with three runs in the fifth. 1B Tim Dryden keyed the rally with a 2-RBI double, while 2B Corrie Willkie drove in the third run with an RBI single.
Not to be outdone, the Bruins came back with two in the bottom half of the fifth, as Santora went deep to right for one, and sophomore DH Eric Reece drove in Scott with a sacrifice fly to second base.
Down 5-4 in the seventh, the Beavers would mount one last comeback before being shutout by Cislak for the remainder of the game. They took a 6-5 lead after an RBI single by C Bryan Ingram and a sac fly by Willkie. The Bruins, however, had the final say with three runs in the bottom half of the seventh. After an RBI single by Scott, who was 3-for-3 on the day, Atkins brought home himself and his teammate with the game-winning home run off reliever Hal Ranstad, who picked up the loss, dropping to 2-2 on the season.
Atkins, who continued his recent hot streak by posting his second 4-for-4 afternoon of the year, and fourth perfect day at the plate, has hit safely in 20 of the last 21 games. Atkins is 39 of 89 (.438) with 23 runs, 18 RBI, eight 2B, one 3B, and four HR during this stretch.
The first four batters in UCLAs lineup (Santora, Utley, Scott, and Atkins) accounted for the bulk of the offense, as they were a combined 10-for-17 with four HR, six RBI, and seven runs scored.
The Bruins will travel to San Diego on Tuesday, May 11 to take on the Toreros of the University of San Diego in the conclusion of a two-game season series. The Bruins won the opener 4-3 on February 10 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Sophomore RHP Jon Brandt (7-3, 4.36) is the probable starter for UCLA.
