University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Oregon St
Bruin Baseball Edges Oregon State 3-1
March 31, 2000 | Baseball
March 31, 2000
Corvallis, Ore. - Junior left-hander Rob Henkel went the distance and allowed just one run while striking out 11 to pick up his fourth consecutive victory as the UCLA baseball team edged Oregon State 3-1 in the first game of a three-game Pacific-10 Conference set at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field Friday afternoon.
The Bruins have won 11 of the last 12 games and improve their overall record to 18-11 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-10. Oregon State falls to 16-12 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Henkel pitched his second straight complete game and in doing so, has now fanned at least 10 batters in each of his last four starts. The southpaw improves his record to 5-1 and leads the Bruins with a 3.58 ERA and 81 strikeouts.
Junior designated hitter Matt Pearl led the UCLA offensive attack, recording a career-high three hits in four at-bats to go along with two RBI. Junior shortstop Josh Canales also had a career-high three hits including a double and a bunt single.
In a game that took just two hours and two minutes, the Bruins got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning. Canales led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by junior second baseman Chase Utley, before scoring on a groundout by junior first baseman Garrett Atkins.
UCLA sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley made perhaps the play of the game in the bottom of the third inning, thwarting the Beavers' best scoring opportunity. With two outs and runners in scoring position, he made a diving stab to steal a possible two-RBI base hit. Shelley's throw was dug out of the dirt nicely by Atkins at first to get the runner, OSU right fielder Josh Carter, to end the inning.
In the fourth, junior catcher Forrest Johnson led off the inning with a triple in the gap in left center and later scored an a double by Pearl to give the Bruins a 2-0 edge.
The Beavers threatened in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back singles by shortstop Will Hudson and catcher Bryan Ingram. OSU center fielder Eric Stark then hit into a double play, scoring Hudson from second. Henkel then fanned Beaver first baseman Joe Gerber to end the inning.
UCLA added an insurance run in the ninth. Johnson reached on an error by OSU second baseman Zach Gordon and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior right fielder Nick Lyon. Pearl then singled in Johnson to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. Henkel retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to wrap up the victory.
Oregon State starter Scott Nicholson went the distance in a losing effort, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits, while striking out five. Ingram was 2-for-4, while Gordon and Hudson were both 2-for-3 to lead Beavers with multiple hits.
The three-game series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. with sophomore right-hander Josh Karp on the mound for the Bruins against Oregon State right-hander Thad Johnson.
