University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
USC
Bruin Baseball Falls To USC 5-1
April 07, 2000 | Baseball
April 7, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Sole possession of first place in the Pac-10 belongs to USC, as junior right-hander Rik Currier pitched a five-hit complete-game victory, leading the Trojans over the UCLA baseball team 5-1 in front of a standing room only crowd of 885 at Jackie Robinson Stadium Friday evening.
The Bruins suffer only their third loss in the last 16 games, and fall to 20-13 overall and 5-2 in the Pac-10. USC improves its overall record to 23-11 and 6-1 in league action. Both teams were tied for the conference lead at the start of the series.
Currier scattered five Bruin hits and allowed just one earned run, while posting 12 strikeouts to improve his record to 8-2. He retired 15 of 16 straight UCLA batters at one point during the game, including striking out the side looking in the seventh.
UCLA left-hander Rob Henkel (5-2) suffered the loss, his first in the last five starts. Henkel went 5.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and striking out seven. Friday night also marked the first time in the last five outings Henkel has not fanned at least 11 batters.
Junior second baseman Chase Utley and junior first baseman Garrett Atkins accounted for four of the five Bruin hits, with two apiece. UCLA scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth when Utley doubled and Atkins knocked him in with a triple off the top of the wall in straight-away center field. UCLA junior left-fielder Nick Lyon also added a first-inning single, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
The Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by third baseman Justin Gemoll. In the sixth, USC chased Henkel when they loaded the bases with two outs. With a 2-0 count on Trojan designated hitter Josh Persell, the Bruins went to the bullpen and brought in junior right-hander Jon Brandt. Persell hit the ball sharply up the middle, and UCLA junior shortstop Josh Canales came up with a diving stop, but his under-hand toss failed to beat the runner at second for the force out as two runners scored.
USC added its final run in the ninth when Brandt hit shortshop Seth Davidson with the bases loaded. In 3.1 innings of relief, Brandt allowed just one unearned run on three hits. UCLA junior left-fielder Bill Scott had his 15-game hitting streak snapped, just one game short of tying his career high mark.
The three-game series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m., as sophomore right-hander Josh Karp (3-1) will take the hill for the Bruins, facing USC sophomore right-hander Mark Prior (5-3). The game, played at Jackie Robinson Stadium, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net with Jim Watson and Jerry Kindall calling the action.
USC Trojans 000 202 001 5 7 0 UCLA Bruins 000 000 010 1 5 1WP - Rik Currier (8-2). LP - Rob Henkel (5-2) 2B - Brian Barre, Chase Utley. 3B - Garrett Atkins. HR - Justin Gemoll. SB - Seth Davidson 2, Nick Lyon. CS - Josh Persell. SH - Seth Davidson, Beau Craig. Start: 6:06 Time: 2:55 Attendance: 885
