University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Pepperdine
Baseball Home Opener Spoiled by Pepperdine Waves, 8-6
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
February 3, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA Bruins lost only their third home opener in the '90s, as the Pepperdine Waves (4-0) held off a ninth-inning threat by the Bruins. UCLA (2-4), down 8 to 6 in the bottom of the ninth managed to get runners on second and third with one out before a groundout by senior catcher Jason Green and a fly-out to right by redshirt freshman DH Adam Berry. Sophomore second-baseman Chase Utley led off the inning with a double to the center-field wall. Freshman All-American and sophomore first baseman Garrett Atkins followed by reaching on an error by Wave shortstop Tony Garcia. Finally, sophomore Bill Scott grounded out to shortstop, advancing Utley. Jay Gehrke, a 6'6" 225-lb. junior transfer from Arizona State recorded his second save of the season for the Waves.
The loss kept UCLA Head Coach Gary Adams one victory away from 800 in his career as Bruins skipper.Freshman Stephen Correa, made his collegiate debut for the Waves, but lasted only .2 innings, giving up four unearned runs on one hit. His main problem was control, as he walked four Bruins and allowed three consecutive batters to reach base on two walks and one single. Sophomore Jon Brandt didn't fair much better for UCLA, however. He was knocked out after pitching 2.1 innings, his shortest outing of this young season. Brandt had pitched 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season, but had control problems in the third inning of this game, walking two and hitting one batter in succession. Pepperdine hitters were tough on Bruin pitching, as many of them reached full counts before putting the ball in play.
Sophomore Jay Adams made his season debut for the Waves, in relief of the wild Correa. After allowing three hits total in the first and second innings, Adams settled down, at one point retiring nine consecutive Bruins. Bobby Roe came on relief of Jon Brandt in the third inning, pitching solidly, but received the loss, his second of the season.
The two clubs were back to playing with aluminum after opening the season with wood bats. The switch especially helped the UCLA offense, which had slumped in Hawaii, only scoring 15 runs in 5 games. The eight-hit total tied for second-highest of the season, while the six runs was it's second-highest of the year. Meanwhile, Pepperdine scored it's second-highest run total of the season. First baseman Jared Pitney and No. 9 batter Tony Garcia, led the Waves attack, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored, respectively.
Adams now falls to 799-647-7 in his 24 years leading UCLA. Under Adams, the Bruins are now 18-6-1 in home openers. Next up for the Bruins is a three-game series against the highly ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Last year, the Bruins traveled to Atlanta and took two out of three from the Yellow Jackets. Sophomore Ryan Carter will get the start (0-1, 2.57) against Yellow Jacket ace Chuck Crowder, in game one of the series on Friday, February 5 at 3pm. Next up for the Waves is a three-game set with the California Bears in Berkeley commencing on that same Friday.
