STANFORD, Calif. - The top-ranked Stanford Cardinal defeated the UCLA Bruins, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at Sunken Diamond. Junior righthander Jeff Austin improved to 8-0 by limiting the Bruins to just one run in nine innings. Eric Valent hit s solo home run in the sixth inning to account for the Bruins' only run. UCLA has scored at least one run in 115 consecutive games. Senior Nick Theodorou, who had missed the last six weeks due to a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup and was 3-3. In his first at bat back, he ripped a double off the center field wall. Freshman Paul Diaz made his first collegiate start and pitched very well. Diaz allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings. Diaz suffered the loss, dropping to 0-1. Sophomore Al Thielemann pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of Diaz. UCLA squandered several scoring opportunities. Theodorou doubled with two outs in the second inning but was stranded.

Senior Eric Byrnes collected the 70th double of his UCLA career (five away from tying the Pac-10 record) in the third inning with two outs but was stranded.

In the fifth inning, Theodorou led off with a single. One out later, sophomore Michael Hymes singled. But junior Jason Green grounded into an inning-ending double play.

In the sixth inning, after Valent homered, freshman Garrett Atkins extended his hitting streak to 17 with a single. Then senior Cassidy Olson ripped a shot down the third base line but third baseman Josh Hochgesang made an incredible play and robbed Olson of a likely RBI-double.

In the seventh inning, Theodorou led off with a single, but he was picked off first base by catcher Damien Alvarado.

In the eighth inning, Green led off with a walk. Then Byrnes singled, but Green tried to advance to third on the play and was thrown out.

The Bruins play the Cardinal again on Sunday at 1:00 and Monday at 6:00. Freshman righthander Chad Cislak will start on Saturday against junior righthander Chad Hutchinson. On Sunday, freshman lefthander Ryan Carter will start for UCLA and he will face junior lefthander Brent Hoard. It will mark the fourth consecutive weekend that UCLA has used an all-freshman starting rotation.