Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score
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Los Angeles - Senior Paul Schmidt allowed one run off three hits in a career-high 5.1 innings of relief as No. 15 UCLA fell to No. 10 Cal State Fullerton, 7-4, at Jackie Robinson Stadium Saturday night. Junior Alden Carrithers and sophomore Brandon Crawford led UCLA's offensive production with 3-for-5 performances.

Cal State Fullerton right-hander Jeff Kaplan (3-0) allowed three runs off seven hits in 6.2 innings pitched to earn the victory. The Dana Point, Calif. resident struck out five Bruins and issued seven walks. Titan right-hander Adam Jorgenson pitched 0.2 scoreless innings to record his second save. UCLA's Matt Drummond (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs off one hit in 1.2 innings.

The Titans struck with two three-run innings - in the second and fourth. Catcher John Curtis led off the second frame with a solo home run inside the right-field foul pole. Cal State Fullerton's next two batters drew walks and later scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Bryan Harris and a groundout to third by center fielder Clark Hardman, respectively.

In the fourth inning, Harris reached base with a one-out double and advanced to third on Hardman's single to right. Shortstop Joe Scott plated Harris and moved Hardman to second with a sacrifice bunt. With the bases loaded, Curtis singled to center, scoring second baseman Joel Weeks (reached on a walk) and Hardman.

The Bruins cut Cal State Fullerton's lead in half with a three-run fifth inning. Right fielder Gabe Cohen belted a one-out double to right field and moved to third on Crawford's single to center. Weisser plated Cohen with a single to right and moved Crawford to third. Center fielder Tim Murphy and first baseman Tim Stewart drew back-to-back walks, the latter scoring Crawford. Left fielder Justin Uribe's sacrifice fly to right scored Weisser.

In the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Blair Dunlap reached on a bunt single down the first-base line. Sophomore Eddie Murray pinch-ran for Dunlap and moved to second base on Carrithers' single to left field. Murray reached third base when Cohen grounded into a double play (6-4-3). Crawford grounded a ball up the middle and beat out shortstop Joe Scott's throw, allowing Murray to score and cut the Titans' lead to 6-4.

The Titans increased their margin to 7-4 with a solo home run to left field by Nick Mahin in the top of the ninth.

UCLA and Cal State Fullerton finish their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Bruins' Jackie Robinson Stadium. Freshman lefty Gavin Brooks (1-0) takes the mound for UCLA, and Cal State Fullerton will send Sean Urena (1-0) to the hill.

Game Notes: Second baseman Alden Carrithers extended his hitting steak to six games with his leadoff double in the first inning...Crawford and Carrithers each posted their seventh multi-hit games of the season...freshman Matt Drummond made 15 pitches in a 1-2-3 first inning.