April 1, 1998

BERKELEY, Calif.-The University of California baseball team broke a seven-game losing streak and won its first conference game of the season with an 11-4 victory over UCLA Wednesday at Evans Diamond. The Bears improve to 13-18 overall and 1-13 in the Six-Pac, while the Bruins lost their sixth-straight game and fell to 11-22 overall and 5-13 in conference.

Cal was led by outstanding pitching from freshman starter Jason Dennis, who improved his record to 4-2 by going 8.0 innings with eight hits, four runs, four walks and three strikeouts to lead the Bears to their first conference victory of the season.

Cal also benefited from a six-run sixth inning in which UCLA committed four errors.

Leading hitters for Cal were Juan Hernandez, who went 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI; and Rob Meyer, Jason Hill, Curtis Johnson (two doubles) and Mike Tonis had two hits apiece. Tonis had a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

At the plate UCLA was led by Eric Valent, who went 3-for-5 and had a solo home run in the seventh inning; and Eric Byrnes, who went 2-for-5 with a triple. Forrest Johnson had pinch-hit home run to lead off the eighth inning and Garrett Atkins continued his hitting streak to 20 games with a single in the first inning.

Cal will next travel to UCLA for a three game series beginning Friday, Apr. 3 at 7 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.

Home Runs:
UCLA: Valent, solo home run in the seventh. Johnson, solo home run in the eighth.
Cal: Tonis, two-run homer in the fourth.