Houston Mitchell

2 days ago | latimes.com | Houston Mitchell

From Kevin Baxter: The Dodgers made history when they opened the season with eight straight wins, something no reigning World Series champion had ever done. But they’ve been just a shade above mediocre since then. “I wouldn’t say [I’m] worried. It’s kind of where we’re at right now,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s been hard to gain traction.”If anything, the Dodgers have been spinning their wheels.

3 days ago | latimes.com | Houston Mitchell

From Jack Harris: It was a night of redemption at Dodger Stadium. For the struggling home team, its recently beleaguered closer and its enigmatic third baseman most of all. In a 6-5 win against the New York Mets on Tuesday, Max Muncy atoned for a costly fifth-inning error with a two-home run performance, including a game-tying blast in the bottom of the ninth. Left-hander Tanner Scott snapped out of his recent funk, throwing a scoreless 10th inning a night after taking a loss in the same situation.

4 days ago | latimes.com | Houston Mitchell

From Shotgun Spratling: There’s levels to a proper program build. Baby steps have to sometimes be taken, even if everyone involved would like to jump past several of those. Lessons have to be learned. Experiences, both positive and negative, have to be endured. USC suffered through one of those difficult experiences, getting manhandled by national championship contender Oregon State for the second day in a row in the Corvallis Regional final.

5 days ago | latimes.com | Houston Mitchell

From Tim Willert: UCLA‘s run at the Women’s College World Series ended Sunday, two innings after Bruins slugger Megan Grant extended it. Laura Mealer‘s bases-loaded, walk-off single to right field in the bottom of the ninth propelled Tennessee to a 5-4 win and a semifinal meeting with Texas at 9 a.m. PDT Monday. The Volunteers (47-16) did what UCLA couldn’t in the ninth: deliver with the bases loaded.

1 week ago | latimes.com | Houston Mitchell

From Tim Willert: Jessica Clements hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the seventh inning early Friday morning to carry ninth-seeded UCLA past No. 16 Oregon 4-2 at the Women’s College World Series, after the Ducks tied the game in the top of the inning on a call at home plate that was overturned. Catcher Alexis Ramirez also hit a two-run homer in support of Bruins’ starter Kaitlyn Terry, who pitched a four-hitter and gave up one earned run.