University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Washington St
Bruins Roll Over Washington State 13-2
April 29, 2000 | Baseball
April 29, 2000
PULLMAN, Wash. - Sophomore right-hander Josh Karp threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, while junior left fielder Bill Scott knocked in a team-high three runs on two doubles as the UCLA baseball team rolled over Washington State 13-2 at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday afternoon.
Having won yesterday's contest 14-10, the Bruins look for the series sweep tomorrow. UCLA improves to 27-20 overall and 10-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference, while the Cougars fall to 16-28, 4-13 in league action.
With the victory today, Karp has now won five straight decisions and improves his overall record to 7-1 on the season. He held the Cougars scoreless through five, and fanned seven, including striking out the side in the fifth.
Seven Bruins in the starting lineup tallied multiple-hits, led by junior first baseman Garrett Atkins and junior shortstop Josh Canales who both racked up three hits apiece. Junior center fielder Charles Merricks not only went 2-for-4, but had two sacrifice hits and one sacrifice fly as well. The final three batters in the lineup, sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley, Merricks and Canales accounted for seven hits and five RBI.
Freshman left-hander Mike Kunes picked up his first career save in relief, allowing two runs on four hits through the final four innings. Cougar starter Todd Meldahl suffered the loss, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits through 5.1 innings.
UCLA took the early lead in the second inning, when sophomore designated hitter Adam Berry and sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley led off with back-to-back singles. Then Merricks' perfectly laid sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, and later scored on two more singles by Canales and junior right fielder Matt Pearl.
After a scoreless third, the Bruins then scored at least one run in the next five innings. Atkins knocked in the third run of the game in the fourth with a single set up by a sacrifice bunt by Canales.
In the fifth, UCLA took a 6-0 lead on an RBI double by Shelley, a sacrifice fly by Merricks and an RBI single from Canales. The Bruins added three more in the sixth when Berry singled in Scott who led off the inning with a walk. Then with Merricks up a the plate and Johnson at third and Berry at first, the Bruins literally stole a run on a double steal. Merricks then singled up the middle to drive in Berry.
The Cougars scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by right fielder Jordan Nilsen.
The Bruins sealed the victory with two runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by a two-run double by Scott in the eighth.
The series finale is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Bailey Brayton Field. UCLA junior southpaw Bobby Roe will get the starting nod and will face WSU right hander Reggie Rivard.
