University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
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USC
No. 21 UCLA Falls To USC 6-2
April 18, 2000 | Baseball
April 18, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- UCLA starting pitcher Chad Cislak threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, yet the Bruins could not quite bounce back from a three-run first inning by the Trojans as USC defeated the No. 21 UCLA baseball team (24-16 overall) 6-2 in a non-conference makeup game at Dedeaux Field Tuesday evening.
USC (26-15 overall) scored three runs (two unearned) in the first inning off Cislak, making his first appearance on the mound since April 4 vs. Loyola Marymount and his first start of the season. With runners at second and third, Cislak struck out Trojan third baseman Justin Gemoll swinging yet the ball got away from UCLA catcher Forrest Johnson whose throw to first was missed by first baseman Garrett Atkins, scoring both runners.
Gemoll ended up at third on the three-base error by Atkins, and later scored on a fielder's choice by Trojan catcher Beau Craig. The Bruins cut the score to 3-2 in the top of the third as sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley led off with a double and later scored on an RBI single by junior shortstop Josh Canales.
Canales alertly went to second on the throw to the plate as Shelley scored, and later scored on an RBI groundout by junior second baseman Chase Utley.
In the meantime, Cislak kept the Bruins in the game, pitching five shutout innings and was helped in the field by two Bruin double plays to end the fourth and fifth innings. Cislak was relieved by Clark in the top of the seventh, who continued to keep the Trojans without a hit since the second inning, yet in the eighth allowed hits by Gemoll and designated hitter Josh Persell.
With two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the eighth, the Bruins turned to junior center fielder Charles Merricks to relieve Clark on the mound. Merricks, who pitched Sunday vs. Cal State Northridge for the first time since 1998, proceeded to allow a three-run home run to right fielder Rob Garibaldi, sealing the 6-2 victory for the Trojans.
The Bruins had their late inning chances, leaving the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth innings. Utley, Johnson and Bill Scott each had two hits for UCLA.
Trojan starter Ronald Flores (2-1) earned the victory, allowing both Bruin runs while scattering seven hits. Tim Petke picked up his third save of the year. Cislak (0-4) suffered the loss.
UCLA has now lost three straight games in which they have out-hit their opponent.
A big weekend awaits UCLA, as the Bruins travel to Tempe, Ariz. for a three-game series with No. 3 Arizona State Thursday, April 20 through Saturday, April 22. Thursday and Friday's games are scheduled for 7 p.m., while Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. All three games can be heard live on the internet with Jeff Blank and Cass Olson calling the action at www.broadcast.com.
UCLA Bruins 002 000 000 2 10 1 USC Trojans 300 000 03x 6 5 0WP - Ronald Flores (2-1). LP - Chad Cislak (0-4). Save - Tim Petke (3). 2B - Randall Shelley. SB - Brian Barre, Seth Davidson. CS - Justin Gemoll, Alberto Concepcion. Start: 5:05 p.m. Time: 2:35 Attendance: 292
