Tuesday, March 4, 1997
BASEBALL:
Glaus adds fuel to fire as No. 1 UCLA looks to extend hot
streakBy Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Contributor
The top-ranked UCLA baseball team (20-2-1) hosts unranked UCSB
(9-9) this afternoon in a nonconference game at Jackie Robinson
Stadium, beginning at 3 p.m.
The clubs faced each other at Santa Barbara two weeks ago, with
the Bruins emerging with a dominating 17-7 win.
Since that game, UCLA has won six of seven games, including a
sweep of the three-game Hormel Foods tournament last weekend.
On the other side of the diamond, the Gauchos are trying to
recover from three losses to unranked Santa Clara over the weekend.
Before that series, however, UCSB took two of three games from No.
6 Stanford.
So, one can never tell what Gaucho squad will be playing, the
one that creates the upsets, or the one that has trouble with
less-talented opponents.
The Bruin offense enters the contest with hot bats, as has been
the case throughout the season.
In 23 games, shortstop/third baseman Troy Glaus tops the
regulars in seven offensive categories. His numbers include a .433
batting average (39-for-90), 40 runs scored, 12 homers (tied), 83
total bases (tied), a .922 slugging percentage, 24 walks and a .557
on-base percentage.
Left fielder Jon Heinrichs is batting .385 with team highs in
at-bats (109), hits (42) and total bases (tying Glaus with 83).
Center fielder Eric Valent has 34 hits in 92 at bats (.370
average) to go along with his 45 RBI. Valent ties Glaus with 12
homers.
Right fielder Eric Byrnes leads the team with 14 doubles. He
also has an interesting statistic to his credit  he has been
hit by a pitch six times thus far.
Dan Keller (2-1, 5.14 ERA) will start the game on the mound for
the Bruins.
CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin
Troy Glaus will lead the Bruins against UCSB today.