UCLA falls in 9th

Throughout UCLA's memorable 2010 postseason run, head coach John Savage touted the team's unsung heroes, the fantastic bullpen that not only kept the Bruins in games, but hpropelled them to victory.

Heading into this season, Savage sounded a bit worried about replacing Dan Klein and the veteran-laden bullpen, if only because of the experience factor.

He had reason to worry.

UCLA freshman closer Nick Vander Tuig gave up two runs to UC Irvine in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium, propelling the Anteaters to the Super Regionals with a 4-3 win and ending the Bruins' season.

"I told him that he's going to be a great Bruin and he needs to learn from this season," Savage said about his post-game talk with Vander Tuig. "I'm sure he'll be one of our starters next year. He got put into a role he wasn't totally used to."

After Vander Tuig replaced fellow freshman pitcher Zack Weiss with no outs and Dillon Meyer on first base following a walk, UC Irvine designated hitter Jordan Leyland smacked an 0-2 offering into left field for a game-tying double. UCLA third baseman Cody Regis misplayed a Tommy Reyes bunt, moving pinch-runner Scott Gottschling to third, and Anteaters No. 9 hitter Ronnie Schaeffer stroked a single to right field for the win.

Sitting at the post-game dais, Savage stared off into the distance, seemingly running over the ninth inning pitch-by-pitch in his head.

"Nick left a breaking ball; we wanted it in the dirt, and Leyland did a nice job and he hit a mistake," Savage said. "But I was thinking about (Adam) Plutko and (Zack) Weiss and Vander Tuig. Those are the New Coles and Bauers."

For much of the game, UCLA kept the Anteaters at snout's length, unable to build on an early 3-0 lead.

Blessed by standout pitching performances throughout the weekend after dropping the first games of the regional to San Francisco - including a dominating performance from freshman Adam Plutko in a 4-1 win over the Dons earlier on Sunday - the Bruins finally seemed to be building some offensive momentum over the first five innings. The big hit? A Jeff Gelalich first-inning home run that came a year to the day after his first collegiate home run.

UCLA, which eliminated UC Irvine from the regionals last season at Jackie Robinson, would later add runs in the fourth inning on a Gelalich fielder's choice that scored catcher Tyler Heineman and in the fifth inning on a Heineman RBI single, but the team also stranded 13 baserunners and struck out eight times.

"That was really the story of the season; we just could not get people in," Savage said. "It seemed like we'd get them on, but at the end of the day, we for whatever reason, did not produce enough runs. It's frustrating. Everybody's frustrated, everybody's trying. Sometimes they try too hard."

Weiss, the team's typical Tuesday starter allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five, only finding real trouble in the fifth inning, when the Anteaters scored two. Weiss settled down, though, inducing an inning-ending groundout that stranded two baserunners.
But after the walk to Jonathan Hurst to open the ninth inning, Weiss gave way to Vander Tuig.

"It was the most pitches he's thrown all year, and I thought he was done after the seventh," Savage said. "Eighth inning, though, he came out guns blazing. I'm so proud of him. The guy stepped up in a major way. I think you saw a pitcher grow up tonight."
More than one, in fact.