Thursday, April 23, 1998
Consistent accomplishments but consistent losses
BASEBALL: Success with hits, steals doesn’t make up for
atrocious pitching
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Staff
Is there no longer suspense in UCLA baseball games?
The Bruins (18-28) dropped a 19-5 decision to No. 16 Cal State
Fullerton (33-12) at Titan Field Wednesday night even with the
usual contributions from senior Eric Valent, senior Eric Byrnes and
freshman Garrett Atkins.
Center fielder Valent continues to hit homers – just like he did
when he smashed his 24th home run of the season. The home run was
also the 63rd of Valent’s Pac-10 career – breaking the mark
previously set by UCLA’s Troy Glaus in 1997.
Right fielder Byrnes, who has only been caught stealing once
this season, continues to successfully steal bases – like the three
he stole against Cal State Fullerton.
And third baseman Atkins continues to amass hits – like the
single that extended his school-record hitting streak to 30.
But even with all the good things the Bruins consistently
accomplish, many bad things also happen – like their fifth
consecutive loss.
UCLA found itself ahead 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third
and were still in front 5-3 when the bottom of the fourth
arrived.
The offensive-minded Titans then scored a demoralizing 12 runs
in an inning that saw four Bruin pitchers come to the mound.
First up was Al Thielemann (0-1) who allowed one hit, one walk
and hit a batter while only getting one out. Then came Ryan
Reightley, who recorded only one out while giving up three hits,
one walk and hitting two more batters. Side-arm throwing Tyler
Dersom tried to get the Bruins out of the inning, but he walked
three hitters and hit two more batters while incapable of recording
a single out.
Finally, emergency pitcher Aldo Pinto came in to end the
inning.
It was an inning in which Fullerton scored 12 runs (six of them
earned) and had as many hits (5) as hit batters (5). Amazingly, out
of the Titan’s 15 hits, there was only one extra-base hit, Kevin
Duck’s triple.
With a 15-5 lead, the Titans cruised the rest of the way as four
pitchers combined to limit the Bruin offense of four hits and no
runs in the last five innings.
The Bruins, though could not keep Fullerton from the scoreboard
as UCLA hurler Chad Cislak was victimized for four more runs en
route to thea final score of 19-5.