Patient Titans Give Bruins Some Time to Self-Destruct

UCLA has made a habit of falling behind early in games this season. So when the Bruins jumped out to a five-run lead Wednesday night at Titan Field, there was a little bit of excitement in the visiting dugout.

That lasted just three innings.

Cal State Fullerton came back to win, 19-5, thanks to a 12-run fourth inning.

The Bruins gave up six walks and three singles, hit five batters and threw in an error to help the Titans in that inning.

It was Fullerton’s 18th come-from-behind victory in its last 24 games.

But in reality, it was a come-from-ahead loss for UCLA (10-28), which used six pitchers.

Titan Coach George Horton was smiling because he didn’t have to use a lot of pitchers.

“Our hitters were patient and that helped our pitchers,” Horton said of the Titans (33-12). “We took advantage of their inefficiency.”

Titan starter Michael Garner lasted only two innings, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks. Marco Hanlon, formerly of Woodbridge, (3-2) got the win, giving up one run on two hits in two innings of relief.

UCLA reliever Al Thielemann (0-1), who loaded the bases to open the fourth inning, got the loss.

Fullerton outfielder Reed Johnson led the offense with four hits, five runs scored and one run batted in.

Former Canyon standout Eric Valent put the Bruins ahead early with a two-run homer, his 24th of the season and 63rd of his career, the most in Pac-10 history.

Fullerton’s David Bacani was hit by a pitch for the 19th this season.

In another nonconference game:

Chapman 5, Azusa Pacific 2--Jeff Blitstein pitched a seven-hitter and improved his record to 10-3. Aaron Rifkin had two hits, two walks and two runs scored for the Panthers (21-10). Luis Garcia hit a home run for Chapman.

Azusa Pacific dropped to 29-9.

In nonconference softball:

Cal State Fullerton 5-11, Loyola Marymount 4-3--The Titans (26-23) won the first game on Brenda Iglesias’ homer in the bottom of the seventh. Dara Marzolo hit two home runs, drove in three runs and scored four to lead the Titans in the second game.

At the Big West Conference Tennis Championships:

Cal State Fullerton 5, North Texas 3--Amy Medlin and Alejandra Arredondo swept their singles sets to help the Titans win the preliminary-round match in Ojai.