University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Keio University of Japan
Bruins Allow Ninth-Inning Lead To Slip Away, Lose Exhibition Game 7-4
March 04, 2000 | Baseball
March 4, 2000
WESTWOOD, Calif. -- The #19 UCLA Bruins (7-9, 0-0) allowed four runs in the top of the ninth and went down in order in the bottom half, as Keio University of Japan came away with a 7-4 victory in an exhibition game at Jackie Robinson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
UCLA led 4-3 heading into the ninth before Keio rallied for four runs off three hits against closer junior RHP Scott Arrasmith. The Bruins aided the Keio cause by walking two batters and committing an error and a passed ball, which resulted in two unearned runs for the visitors.
This being an exhibition game, UCLA Head Coach Gary Adams batted 11 Bruins, including three designated hitters. The extra bats in the lineup didn't pan out as Adams expected, however, as the Bruins scored just four runs off seven hits using aluminum bats.
Keio U., on the other hand, used a traditional lineup and wooden bats to score seven runs off nine hits. The Bruins committed three errors on the afternoon, resulting in four unearned runs.
Freshman C/DH Jim Hemming provided the Bruins with three of their four runs when he launched a second-inning offering from Keio starter Shogo Yamamoto over the right-center field fence to give UCLA a 3-1 lead. UCLA tacked on another run in the third when freshman LF Christian Lewis, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a double-play ball. Keio then used four different pitchers to hold UCLA scoreless over the final six innings.
The winning pitcher was Keio reliever Shuichiro Osada, while Arrasmith got the loss for UCLA. Since the game was an exhibition, neither UCLA's record or statistics is affected.
Next up for the Bruins is a trip to Cal State Fullerton to take on the #4 Titans at Titan Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm this Tuesday, March 7.
