In a fitting end to a historically bad season, the UCLA baseball team was swept by Washington over the weekend to round out its worst season statistically since 1945.
The Bruins (15-41, 4-20 Pac-10) dropped all three games at home to end their season and UCLA coach John Savage’s first year at the helm.
UCLA’s worst loss came on Sunday, 16-5, illustrating how the Bruins’ few strengths were often sabotaged by numerous weaknesses throughout the season. But what was even more painful for this year’s squad is the way the season ended for the seniors.
“Clearly, today was (most) disappointing for them,” Savage said. “I really wanted them to get a win and go out on a high note, and we just couldn’t do it.”
But as the season draws to an end with the Bruins dropping seven of their last nine games, for Savage and the coaching staff, this season has helped them learn where the team needs to improve and which players have a future in the program.
“Our No. 1 goal is to win with class and UCLA pride, and this season, we didn’t do that as much as we’d liked to,” Savage said. “We’re going to have a lot of players back, and we’ve got a really good recruiting class. We’ve seen where we need to get better, and it’s basically across the board.”
On Senior Day, UCLA senior right-hander Bryan Beck got the start, yet he could not contain the Huskies (33-22, 12-12), giving up eight earned runs in six innings pitched.
Finding themselves up early, the Bruins followed a similar trend they have endured all season, coughing up a string of runs to their opponents.
Beck, for one, may want to put this season behind him after posting a forgettable 1-11 record with a 6.01 ERA. On Sunday, it was more of the same, as he failed to secure the victory after UCLA built a lead.
“Today, I just left a couple of balls up, and they were able to hit them out,” Beck said.
Saturday’s game was the most winnable for the Bruins, but a controversial call led to their undoing. With two outs in the top of the ninth, runners on the corners, and the game tied 5-5, Husky freshman Matt Hague grounded a ball down the third base line, which Bruin Brett McMillan fielded and threw to first. After initially calling the runner out, the home plate umpire overruled the call, deciding that Hague was safe.
UCLA couldn’t score in its half of the inning and lost 6-5.
“We saw it pretty clearly,” Savage said. “I really thought he stayed on the bag. The umpire said he was off the bag on the dirt. The ball was on-line, and it was high. It was a tough call and unfortunate. That’s baseball.”
Washington scored a 6-0 shutout on Friday as Tim Lincecum stifled the Bruin offense, allowing only two hits and out-pitching Bruin ace Hector Ambriz.