UCLA up to old tricks in win over Virginia

UCLA used the old hidden ball trick to perfection Friday in their NCAA baseball regional opener against Virginia, but it was a different kind of hidden ball that gave the Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Cavaliers at Cal State Fullerton.

UCLA pinch-hitter Cody Decker came to bat with one out and runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied, 2-2. He hit what appeared to be a routine bouncer to Virginia third baseman Tyler Cannon, who fielded it cleanly and fired to first.

But with the sun setting directly behind the stands on the third base line, first baseman Jeremy Farrell lost the ball and flinched helplessly as the throw went past him down the right field line, allowing UCLA pinch-runner Chris Giovinazzo to score the winning run from second base.

“In my coaching career I don’t know if I’ve ever lost a game like that where the sun affects the player not being able to see the baseball to catch it,” Virginia Coach Brian O’Connor said. “If you’re around the game of baseball long enough, you’ll see things that you’ve never seen before. But it doesn’t feel very good right now to have that happen to us.”

It wasn’t the first time a Virginia player lost track of the ball. In the sixth inning, the Cavaliers (38-22) trailed, 2-0, when, David Adams lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Greg Miclat to make it 2-1. Cannon, who was on second, also tagged and went to third.

Moments later, with the team celebrating its first run, Cannon wandered off the base and UCLA third baseman Jermaine Curtis, who never returned the ball to pitcher Tim Murphy after the throw came from center, tagged out Cannon. Instead of a man on third with one out in a one-run game, there was nobody on and two outs.

“The hidden ball really was a big play,” UCLA Coach John Savage said. “It’s one of those timing things where a run scores and there’s some excitement and fortunately it worked.”

Cal State Fullerton 11, Rider 0 -- Brian Wilson, making his first start of the season, pitched a six-hitter. Fullerton plays UCLA tonight at 8.

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peter.yoon@latimes.com