Bruins sweep away UNLV series as their just deserts

Monday, February 3, 1997

BASEBALL:

Sloppy Rebel fieldwork, strong UCLA pitching lead to victoryBy
Kristina Wilcox

Daily Bruin Contributor

Motivated by a talk show call, Eric Valent had a great series
against UNLV this weekend, driving in five runs on Friday and
Sunday.

The UCLA baseball team, in turn, swept the desert series from
the young Rebels.

On a team radio show broadcast, UNLV first baseman Kevin
Eberwein basically said that Valent is not as good as everyone says
he is. The centerfielder sure managed to prove Eberwein wrong.

Valent (3-for-5) was only a single away from hitting the cycle
Friday during the 7-4 Bruin victory. He hit a two-bagger in the top
of the first inning, a bases-clearing triple in the fourth, and a
home run in the sixth. He almost had a single in the eighth inning,
but UNLV rightfielder Ryan Ludwick caught the ball on the fly.

Starting pitcher Jim Parque scattered seven hits over 5 1/3
innings before being replaced by right-handed reliever Matt Klein
in the sixth. Jake Meyer earned a save by preserving Parque’s
strong outing.

UNLV starter Tista Perri took the loss after lasting only 3 1/3
innings, during which he gave up 5 earned runs. Although the Rebels
(0-3) were shabby fielders ­ they made four errors ­ all
Bruin runs were earned.

On Saturday, the Bruin bats didn’t come alive until top of the
ninth inning. Going into the inning, the team had been down by one,
5-4, but by the end, eight runners crossed the plate to give UCLA a
12-5 win.

Right fielder Eric Byrnes drove in the decisive two runs with a
double. Three batters later, second baseman Nick Theodorou’s third
hit, a two-run single, solidified the lead for Meyer, who closed
the game for UCLA (6-0).

After throwing a combined no-hitter on Jan. 24, lefthander Tom
Jacquez had another remarkable starting outing. This time around,
Jacquez went seven innings, allowing two earned runs while striking
out six batters.

Valent was up to his old tricks on Sunday when the Bruins
defeated UNLV, 10-3. His three-run homerun in the sixth inning
broke a 1-1 tie, and he hit a 2-RBI double in the eighth for the
final two runs of the game.

UCLA Sports Info

Eric Valent