Big Win In The Diamonds

by Nestor on May 11, 2008 9:19 AM PDT in Baseball

With their backs against the wall Bruin baseball team pull off a huge win against the defending national champions:

Right-hander Charles Brewer (7-4) logged his team-leading seventh win of the season, recording nine strikeouts in 7.1 innings, as the UCLA baseball team recorded an 11-4 win at Oregon State in a crucial Pac-10 contest Saturday afternoon before 2,539 fans at Goss Stadium.

The Bruins (25-22, 8-9 Pac-10) received home runs from shortstop Brandon Crawford, designated hitter Cody Decker and right fielder Raul Duran to power past the host Beavers (23-19, 10-10 Pac-10). Decker was 2-for-5 with a team-leading four RBI. Crawford was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, and Duran belted his first career homer.

Brewer, a sophomore right-hander from Paradise Valley, Ariz., allowed four runs (two earned) and five hits in 7.1 innings of work. Junior right-hander Jason Novak registered his second save of the season, tossing 1.2 hitless innings in relief. Novak entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with runners aboard first and second base and induced an inning-ending double play from right fielder Daniel Robertson.

Eight Bruins each recorded at least one hit, and four players posted multi-hit efforts - Crawford, Decker, first baseman Casey Haerther and catcher Ryan Babineau. Crawford and Haerther each finished the day with two RBI.

For more on the game from the OSU perspective check out Jake’s mobile post on Building The Dam.

Our victory sets up today’s rubber match at Goss:

The Bruins conclude their three-game series at Oregon State on Sunday at 1 p.m. UCLA left-hander Gavin Brooks (5-2) will start on the mound against Oregon State right-hander Jorge Reyes (3-2).

A win in this game will be a huge boost for our team’s chances for the post season. Not to mention it will give everyone in the team a much needed moral boost after last weekend’s dispiriting series loss against ASU which was followed by the tough loss against USD.

Let’s hope the boys get it done today.

GO BRUINS.