Jan. 30, 2005

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - UCLA could not maintain an early three run lead Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium and eventually fell 8-3 to Cal Poly in the finale of this weekend's three-game season-opening series. After taking the opener 7-4, the Bruins dropped game to 2-1 and fell to 1-2 heading into next weekend's series against Fresno State. Cal Poly improves to 5-1 with the win.

Junior southpaw Frank McLaughlin picked up his second victory for the Mustangs with an impressive six inning relief outing. McLaughlin took over in the fourth and allowed no runs and just one hit while facing one batter over the minimum.

The Bruins took an early lead against Cal Poly starter Bud Norris in the third inning. With Jarrad Page on first, junior right fielder Josh Roenicke doubled to right sending Page to third. A Norris balk plated Page and a fielding error by shortstop Gilbert Gil allowed Roenicke to score. Four batters later, Sean Smith drove in Nolan Rouse with an RBI single to center for a 3-0 lead.

Cal Poly charged back with two runs in the fourth and took the lead for good on Bret Burgland's two-run home run in the fifth. The Mustangs added an insurance run in the ninth with Matt Cooper's solo shot.

Scott Botterman suffered the defeat for UCLA for the second game in a row. Brant Rustich started for the Bruins and allowed two runs on two hits in 3.2 innings of work.