University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
UNLV
Baseball Bounces Back to Defeat UNLV 10-1
February 12, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2000
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The third-ranked UCLA baseball team got back on the winning track with a standout pitching performance by sophomore starter Josh Karp, while taking advantage of four UNLV errors, as the Bruins defeated the Hustlin' Rebels 10-1 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas Saturday afternoon.
In stark contrast to Friday's 21-5 one-sided score by UNLV, a pitchers' duel ensued through the first five innings of play today. Karp, a preseason All-American, allowed just three hits and one unearned run through six innings to pick up his second victory of the season. UCLA improves to 5-1 on the season, while UNLV's overall record drops to 3-4. Rebel starter Giovanni Pupo (1-0) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings.
UCLA redshirt sophomore designated hitter Adam Berry and junior right fielder Nick Lyon each tied career highs with three hits a piece. Berry was 3-5 with two runs scored, while Lyon was 3-5 including a home run, two runs and two RBI. Junior second baseman Chase Utley was 2-6, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Utley also knocked in two runs and scored once.
The Rebels picked up their only run of the game in the first inning. UNLV first baseman Tony DeMarco got a two-out basehit, before left fielder Nate Kaup hit a sharp ground ball to UCLA third baseman Garrett Atkins. Atkins bobbled the ball and failed to get a throw off, leaving runners at first and second. Designated hitter Trent Kitsch then followed with an RBI single, scoring DeMarco. Following the unearned run, Karp then went on to retire 14 of the next 15 batters he faced.
UCLA evened the score with one run in the top of the fourth, and then put the game away with four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh. Berry had a one-out basehit in the sixth and stole second. After Lyon struck out, freshman shortstop Warren Trott hit a sharp grounder to third good for an infield hit, but a wild throw by the UNLV third baseman Clay Belding allowed Berry to score the go ahead run and Trott to advance to second.
The next UCLA batter, center fielder Freddie Mitchell, was hit by a pitch and a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third before Utley extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two RBI single. Utley then set up the fourth run of the inning, by stealing second and then scoring on a single by Atkins.
The bottom of the Bruin lineup continued to produce in the seventh, highlighted by RBI singles from Lyon and Mitchell. The hit was the first of his career for Mitchell, also making his first start in center field.
Karp was relieved by junior Scott Arrasmith in the seventh who allowed just one hit through two innings. Junior Paul Diaz pitched the ninth, retiring all three batters he faced.
UCLA and UNLV will meet for the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 13 with a 1:05 start time at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The Bruins will send left-hander Rob Henkel (0-0) to the mound to face Rebel right-hander Luke Anderson (1-1). The game will be broadcast live on the internet at www.unlvrebels.com.
