University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Hawaii
Hawaii Blanks UCLA Baseball, 6-0
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
January 24, 1999
HONOLULU - For the first time since 1984, UCLA was shutout in back-to-back games, as the Hawaii Rainbows blanked UCLA 6-0 on Saturday afternoon at Rainbow Stadium in Honolulu before 1,194 fans. Dating back to 1997, UCLA has lost its last 10 games in a row that have been televised. The two teams played with wood bats once again.
After shutting out UCLA 3-0 on Friday night with lefthander Jamie Aloy, the Rainbows went to Randon Ho, another lefthander, and he was even more effective. Ho allowed just two hits in seven innings while striking out nine and walking just two to earn the victory. It marked the first time since 1992 that Hawaii had posted back-to-back shutouts.
UCLA could manage just three hits on the day. Sophomore second baseman Chase Utley, freshman third baseman Randall Shelley and redshirt sophomore first baseman Eric Reece collected the hits. Reece, who came into the game as a replacement, tallied the teams only extra base hit of the game , a double, and was 1-2. Redshirt freshman Adam Berry made his first collegiate start, playing behind the plate. He was 0-3, striking out once.
Sophomore Bobby Roe, a 1998 Freshman All-American, made his first collegiate start for UCLA, and suffered the loss, pitching five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking four and striking out two. With strong winds, his famous "trap-door" pitch was not as effective as usual. Sophomore righthander Chad Cislak closed out the game for the Bruins, pitching three innings and allowing two runs (both earned) on two hits while walking three and striking out three. Cislak settled down after allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base, which led to two runs.
For the second day in a row, it was walks, defensive miscues and mental mistakes (not knowing how many outs there were) which hurt the Bruins.
Although UCLA has lost both games of the series, the games have been very encouraging. There is no question the team will hit, but there were question marks surrounding the pitching staff. So far, the four pitchers who have thrown have all looked sharp. Sophomore righthander Jon Brandt, who did not allow an earned run or walk in three innings of work on Friday night, was particularly impressive. In addition, the team has committed just one error in each game with only one by an infielder. Last season, UCLA committed 132 errors overall and 94 of them were by infielders. Utley, who has made the move to second base, has played stellar defense so far, and has been hitting the ball hard almost every time up at the plate. He is the only Bruin who has hit safely in both games.
The three-game series will conclude on Sunday with the Josh Karp era scheduled to begin. Karp, who turned down a two million dollar signing bonus from the Atlanta Braves, will make his collegiate debut for UCLA. He has been spectacular in intrasquad games since the team returned from winter break. Karp will be faced by another Hawaii lefthander. This time it will be senior Troy Yoshimasu. On Monday morning, UCLA leaves for Hilo and plays a two-game series against Hawaii-Hilo. Redshirt Junior Dan Keller, who missed the 1998 season due to shoulder surgery, is scheduled to start the first game of the series.
