UCLA Jumps on Hild Early, Then Holds Off the Titans

LOS ANGELES — UCLA was averaging an impressive two home runs a game before Cal State Fullerton came to Jackie Robinson Stadium Tuesday night.

Against Fullerton, the Bruins had that many after five pitches.

Scott Hild, who has struggled since the season began, gave up home runs to UCLA’s first two batters, Jon Heinrichs and Eric Byrnes, and the third-ranked Bruins held on for a 7-6 victory.

Hild didn’t give up any more home runs in the second inning, but the bad news for Fullerton was that he walked three batters, and the Bruins scored two more runs to take control of the game.

UCLA blasted two more home runs later in the game to bring its season total to 63 while boosting its record to 22-5-1. Fullerton fell to 13-11.

“It was a one-run difference, but one run is still like 20,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “It’s still a loss.”

But Horton said it paled in comparison to his concerns earlier in the day when his 78-year-old father, Joe, had triple-bypass surgery. Horton came directly to the game from Good Samaritan Hospital after being told that his father was recovering.

Sophomore starter Tom Jacquez pitched a solid five innings for the Bruins, giving up five hits and one run while picking up his fifth victory in six decisions. UCLA used three other pitchers in relief, and they allowed the Titans to get back into the game.

Freshman Michael Garner took over for Hild and pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up four hits hits and one run. He was replaced in the sixth by Tim Baron, who gave up homers to Troy Glaus and Pete Zamora in the seventh.

Hild took the loss, his fourth in five decisions, and his earned run average soared to 7.67. His only victory this season came against Arizona Feb. 8 in a game the Titans won, 20-9.

“He’s really struggling, no two ways about it,” Horton said. “Those two early homers really stunned us.”

Horton shuffled his batting order and his lineup, starting two freshmen on the infield. Ryan Owens played second and Danny Phillips was at third. Mike Lamb, who has played most of the season at third, moved behind the plate.

“We wanted to see if we could get some more consistency defensively,” Horton said.

Aaron Rowand had three of Fullerton’s nine hits, and Phillips had two.

Fullerton scored one run in the third. C.J. Ankrum walked and scored on Steve Chatham’s single. The Titans and got to relief pitcher Rob Henkel for three more runs in the seventh with a two-RBI single by Aaron Rowand the big hit.

“We’re still trying to find our competitive level,” Horton said. “We’re doing the kinds of things teams do when they’re not winning. We had some chances and didn’t take advantage of them.”