March 1, 2008

Box Score

Compton, Calif. - UCLA's Tim Murphy threw a complete-game shutout to help #3 ranked UCLA hold off a valiant effort from Bethune-Cookman University in baseball on Saturday night by a count of 3-0 at the Urban Youth Sports Academy in Compton, Calif. The event was a part of the First Annual Urban Invitational Tournament hosted by Major League Baseball.

It is only so many times that B-CU (2-3) head coach Mervyl Melendez can stomach the thought of hearing "You guys have a great program, and really gave us a scare." But, unfortunately, it will have to suffice for yet another night as the Wildcats' west coast road trip turned sour in the late innings for the second consecutive night. One day after falling to Southern California, 2-0 in Los Angeles, the `Cats held third-ranked UCLA to a 2-0 defeat on Saturday night in Compton.

A true pitcher's duel between UCLA (4-1) starter Tim Murphy and Bethune-Cookman's Joseph "Gio" Gautier went for just over six innings as a stalemate on the board ensued through fantastic pitching and defense. But it would be the nation's third-ranked team to strike first on the board--and that would be enough in the end.

Designated hitter Cody Decker took advantage of one bad pitch from B-CU's Gautier--throwing a gem of a game until that point, and took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a 1-0 Bruins advantage in the top of the seventh frame.

B-CU had a chance to answer back in the bottom-half of the eighth inning when they put runners on the corner and put pressure on Murphy. But as he had done all night, Murphy got out of a jam when a Drew Clark line-out turned into a double play as the hit-and-run was employed by the `Cats.

In the top-half of the ninth inning, the Bruins got an insurance run on the board from yet another B-CU miscue.

With relief pitchers Joey Munoz and Darrin Young getting some much-needed playing time out of the bullpen, the pressure was put on. After Munoz hit a batter and allowed a single, fellow pitcher Young was called for a balk to put runners at second and third with one out.

The Bruins collected the game's final score when - grounded out to Aaron Patterson at third base, and he elected to get the out at first instead of throwing home late.

The `Cats had one last chance in the home-half of the ninth when they looked to finally break the scoring open on Murphy. Junior centerfielder José Ortiz collected a double to get things going, but the rest of the bats were held in check to keep the Bruins on top in the end and escape a possible upset by the Wildcats from Daytona Beach.

"The pitcher [Murphy] we faced tonight was about as legitimate as we have seen in years," praised head coach Mervyl Melendez. "I am very proud of the way my guys battled tonight against a very powerful team, but it just wasn't meant to be tonight."

B-CU's Gautier took the loss to move to 0-1 on the year courtesy just one (1) bad fastball left high for the solo homerun from Decker. The win was collected in shutout fashion for Murphy as he upped his record to 2-0 on the season. He was touched seven times with nine strikeouts and zero (0) walks. Gautier, meanwhile, allowed just two hits and walked zero (0) as well with six strikeouts.

"Gio was outstanding for us tonight," admitted Melendez. "He had one bad pitch, and unfortunately against a team like UCLA you can't have bad pitches like that because they will take it out on you. But he did a great job, and whenever he pitches like that, then we will always be successful."

At the plate, the Bruins were led by left fielder Brady Dolan with two hits in four at-bats. As for the Maroon and Gold, they were led by third baseman Emmanuel Castro with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Bethune-Cookman will face-off against Southern (La.) University tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST in the final game of the inaugural Urban Invitational. The action will take place back at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.

This will be the first time in school history that either team will be facing each other despite several websites and chat rooms devoting much attention to the fact that both are at the top of HBCU baseball ... yet have never faced each other before.