University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Oregon St
Bruins Defeat Oregon State In 18-10 Slugfest
April 01, 2000 | Baseball
April 1, 2000
Corvallis, Ore. - Junior catcher Forrest Johnson hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to power an explosive come-from-behind victory as the UCLA baseball team scored a season-high 18 runs to defeat Oregon State 18-10 in front of 1,152 at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field Saturday afternoon.
In stark contrast to yesterday's pitching duel, today both teams combined for 30 hits, including seven home runs, five of which belonged to UCLA. The Bruins improve to 19-11 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-10, while the Beavers fall to 16-13 overall and 0-2 in league action.
Johnson was perfect at the plate for UCLA, going 4-for-4 with five runs, five RBI, two walks and two homers, including the game-tying slam in the top of the fifth, sparking the Bruin rally. Also hitting home runs for the Bruins were junior right fielder Nick Lyon, junior left fielder Bill Scott, and sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley.
UCLA starter Josh Karp struggled early on and the Bruins found themselves trailing 6-0 after three innings. UCLA was not able to get a hit off OSU starter Thad Johnson until the fourth inning, an RBI double by designated hitter Jim Hemming to cut the Beaver lead to 6-1.
In the fifth, UCLA loaded the bases on a walk, an error and a single, setting the stage for Johnson's game-tying grand slam. Lyon was then hit by a pitch and Hemming walked, before Shelley singled home Lyon from second to drive in the go-ahead run.
The Bruins didn't stop there, adding five more runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Scott's two run home run came in the top sixth, while Lyon smashed a three-run shot and Shelley hit a two-run homer in the seventh. For good measure, Johnson added his second home run of the day in the top of the ninth.
Oregon State cut its deficit from 12 to eight runs in the bottom of the seventh on a three run home run by right fielder Josh Carter and a solo shot by pinch hitter Brian Barden.
Karp pitched five innings for the victory, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five. He was replaced by freshman left-hander Mike Kunes who allowed four runs on four hits through 1.1 innings. Redshirt freshman Kevin Jerkens wrapped up the game for the Bruins on the mound, pitching the final 2.2 innings without allowing a hit and striking out three. OSU's Thad Johnson suffered the loss.
Scott extended his current hitting streak to 13 games, going 3-for-6 with three runs and two RBI. Lyon was 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBI, while designated hitter Matt Pearl was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Shelley finished the day 2-for-5 with one run and 3 RBI and junior center fielder Charles Merricks was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Bruins spent most of the game without assistant coach Vince Beringhele and head coach Gary Adams, who were ejected in the first and third innings respectively.
The Bruins look to wrap up a weekend sweep of Oregon State as the series finale takes place tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Corvallis.
