UCLA takes big lead on Fullerton

The road to baseball prominence in Southern California travels through Cal State Fullerton and no area team knows that better than UCLA.

The Bruins, trying to reach the level of excellence established by the Titans, have struggled against Fullerton in recent years but were trying to turn a corner as they took an 11-4 lead into the ninth inning of their NCAA regional game Saturday night at Fullerton’s Goodwin Field.

The Bruins came into the game having lost 20 of their last 24 meetings against Fullerton, a four-time national champion.

Fullerton had defeated UCLA 12 of 13 times since John Savage took over as UCLA coach in 2005, including all three meetings this season and a two-game super-regional sweep last year with a trip to the College World Series on the line.

The Bruins wasted little time in taking out their frustrations on Fullerton ace Jeff Kaplan, a third-team All-American this season who had his start pushed back partly because he was 2-0 with a 1.40 earned-run average in three starts against UCLA.

Kaplan gave up seven runs and six hits with two walks and two hit batters in only three innings.

It was his shortest outing since Feb. 29 and equaled his season high for runs given up.

Casey Haerther delivered the first blow, a two-run home run to right field in the first inning. Jermaine Curtis had a two-run double in the second inning as the Bruins forged a 5-0 lead and Brandon Crawford, who had a solo home run in the third, knocked in two more runs with a double in the fourth.

The loser of the UCLA-Fullerton game will play Virginia today at 4 p.m. in an elimination game. The Cavaliers eliminated Rider, 8-2.

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peter.yoon@latimes.com