UCLA
Hawaii
Bruin Rally Falls Short
February 16, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2002
HONOLULU, HI - UCLA's ninth inning rally fell short, as the Rainbows of the University of Hawaii (3-5) defeated UCLA 6-4 this evening. UCLA (7-4) was behind 6-2 entering the top of the ninth and scored two runs before the Rainbows were able to close out the game.
The Bruins got on the board in the first, as Matt Thayer singled to start the game. After a Brandon Averill single and a balk, Thayer scored on a Josh Arhart ground out. The Rainbows took the lead in the second, scoring two unearned runs off of UCLA starting pitcher Chris Cordeiro (1-1).
Adam Berry's solo shot to right field tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth, but the Rainbows took the lead for good in the fifth when Gregg Omari's sacrifice fly scored Danny Mocny.
The Rainbows added two more runs in the sixth, and the Bruins couldn't get a run across until the ninth inning. Berry singled to left field to start the inning, and Wes Whisler ran out a grounder to put runners at first and second. Berry scored on a Ryan Rasmussen sacrifice fly, and the final Bruin run scored on Ben Francisco's pinch hit double to the gap in right center. With two outs, Thayer struck out to end the Bruin rally.
Cordeiro suffered the loss, his first of the season. He allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5.0 innings. Kevin Jerkens finished the game for the Bruins, allowing one run on five hits.
Thayer finished the game 3-for-5, while Berry, Whisler and Kevin Conlin all had two hits.
The Bruins will attempt to even the series tomorrow afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium. Game time is 12:05 p.m. HST.
