Final Score: UM 1 - UCLA 0
By Adam Aizer - February 09, 2007
Quite fitting that the game would end with UCLA stranding a runner and missing another chance to score. Miami pitcher Eric Erickson certainly left the door open for the Bruins, only to shut it in their faces.
Having already thrown three scoreless innings in relief of Scott Maine, Erickson trotted out for the ninth. He began the ninth inning the same way he began the sixth - by allowing a leadoff double. But he ended the ninth the same way he ended the sixth - unfazed and unblemished.
Erickson has guts. The true freshman made his first appearance of the year. He faced a ranked opponent and got no run support. It was 1-0 when he entered, and 1-0 when Semisonic's "Closing Time" played over the P.A. System here at Mark Light Field to tell the fans in orange and green it was time to go home and celebrate.
After the leadoff double, Erickson faced a pinch hitter named Cody Decker. It seemed like a perfect time for a strikeout, and Erickson K'd Decker swinging. With one away, Will Penniall stepped in and flew out to right field.
Not only did those UCLA hitters fail to reach base, they both failed to advance Brandon Crawford at second base.
It would be up to a pinch hitter with two outs and a runner in scoring position in the ninth inning. Coach John Savage called on Brady Dolan, a junior right-handed hitter. Erickson bounced one in the dirt, and it got all the way to the back stop to move Crawford over to third. Now Erickson needed to find the strike zone.
He jumped ahead 1-2 on Dolan, and on the game's final pitch, he reached back, put everything he had into one last fastball, and blew it by Dolan for a swinging strikeout. It was Erickson's fifth K of the game, and the tenth by a UM pitcher.
UM 1 - UCLA 0.
Pitching dominated game one. Scott Maine and Eric Erickson combine to shut out UCLA, while Bruins starter Tyson Brummett was outstanding in 7.2 innings of one-run ball.
Miami improves to 1-2 and the Bruins drop to 2-2. I hope tomorrow and Sunday are as exciting as tonight was. Speak to you then.
Adios from Miami.
Posted by Adam Aizer at 10:00 PM on February 09, 2007
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