University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
California
Baseball Pulls Out Dramatic Ninth Inning Win Over Cal 8-7
May 07, 2000 | Baseball
May 7, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- UCLA junior shortstop Josh Canales drove in the game-winning run on a line drive to right field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, breaking a 7-7 tie and lifting the Bruins to a thrilling 8-7 victory over California in the series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, the Bruins end up taking two of three games from Cal and improve to 30-22 overall, 13-5 in the Pac-10. UCLA remains a half game behind first place Stanford who took two of three from Oregon State this weekend. California ends its Pac-10 season with an 11-13 league record, 25-27 overall.
With the score tied 7-7 going into the bottom of the ninth, redshirt freshman designated hitter Jim Hemming poked a one-out single just over the glove of a leaping Clint Hoover at first base. Sophomore Freddie Mitchell went in to pinch-run for Hemming, and advanced to second on a single up the middle by junior center fielder Charles Merricks. Mitchell over-ran second and was nearly picked off on the play, but made it back to second just under the tag.
Sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley then came to the plate and just missed a three-run home run by inches, past the left field foul pole. Shelley ended up striking out swinging, setting the stage for the line drive down the right field line by Canales to lift UCLA to the victory.
The Bruins came back from a 6-1 deficit after four innings, and tied the score on back-to-back home runs by junior first baseman Garrett Atkins and junior left fielder Bill Scott in the bottom of the seventh. UCLA then took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by junior second baseman Chase Utley, before Cal came back to tie on an RBI triple by Hoover in the top of the ninth.
Junior reliever Jon Brandt (5-5) earned the victory in relief, pitching six innings and allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out four. Cal's Trevor Hutchinson (4-4) pitched the ninth inning to suffer the loss.
The Bears took a 4-0 lead off UCLA starter Bobby Roe after four innings, beginning with sacrifice fly by third baseman Xavier Nady in the first. In the third inning, designated hitter John Baker walked in a second run with the bases loaded and was followed by a two-run single by catcher Mike Tonis. Cal added two more runs in the fourth off UCLA reliever Kevin Jerkens, but was held scoreless until the ninth by Brandt.
Scott came up big for the Bruins today, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. After an RBI single in the third, Scott belted a two-run shot in the fifth to cut Cal's advantage to 6-3 before slugging the game-tying homer in the seventh. Atkins also had three hits, including a homer and two RBI to extend his current hitting streak to 12 games. Utley, Canales, Shelley and junior catcher Forrest Johnson each had two hits, Johnson extending his hitting streak to 12 games as well.
The Bruins remain at home for the coming week as they host Long Beach State Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. before a three-game series with Arizona Saturday, May 13 through Monday, May 15 to close out the 2000 season at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
California 103 200 001 7 5 1 UCLA 001 020 311 8 16 1WP - Jon Brandt (5-5). LP - Trevor Hutchinson (4-4). Save - None. 3B - Clint Hoover. HR - Garrett Atkins (15), Bill Scott 2 (20). SB - David Weiner, Jason Williams. Start: 1:05 p.m. Time: 3:15 Attendance: 552
