April 5, 1998

LOS ANGELES-- Junior Eric Valent blasted two home runs and helped lead UCLA to a 6-3 win over the California Golden Bears in game two of a doubleheader at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Sunday evening. Freshmen Chad Cislak and Bobby Roe pitched very well for the Bruins. UCLA swept the three-game series and won its 10th in a row over California in Los Angeles.

Valent blasted a two-run home run in the first inning to get the Bruins on the scoreboard in the first inning. He added a solo home run in the seventh inning which gave him the 190th RBI of his career, making him UCLA's all-time career RBI leader. Torey Lovullo (1984-'88) held the old record. The home run was the 57th of Valent's career, placing him second on all-time Pac-10 list, five away from Troy Glaus (UCLA, 1995-'97). Valent has hit eight home runs in his last 10 games and has not gone more than two games without a home run since going homerless in the team's first seven games of the season.

California tied up the game with two runs in the second inning. Sophomore Curtis Johnson drove both runs in with a single.

UCLA took the lead for good in the third inning. Senior Nick Theodorou walked. With one out freshman garret Atkins singled to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. A passed ball enabled the runners to advance 90 feet. Then Theodorou scored on a wild pitch.

Senior Cassidy Olson knocked home two runs with a double in the sixth inning to give UCLA a 5-2 lead. Valent's home run in the seventh inning gave UCLA a 6-2 lead.

Senior Aaron Gordnier singled home freshman Xavier Nady, who had doubled, in the eighth inning. Roe proceeded to retire the next five California batters to earn his fourth save of the season. Cislak earned the victory for UCLA, allowing two runs in 6.2 innings. It was Cislak's first league victory and his first win since February 7 at Georgia Tech

Valent, Atkins and freshman Chase Utley each collected two hits for UCLA. Valent drove in three of the Bruins' six runs.

Gordnier led California, going 3-4 with two doubles and a stolen base.

   
California  020 000 010     3   9   0
UCLA        201 002 10X     6   8   0
California: Atkinson, Steele (6) and Hill
UCLA: Cislak, Roe (7) and Green
Winning Pitcher: Chad Cislak (3-7)   Losing Pitcher: Ryan Atkinson (1-4) 
HR: UCLA - Valent -2 (17, 18)