Despite having only four career innings under his belt, true
freshman Daniel Miltenberger was tapped to start Tuesday’s
game against No. 2 Cal State Fullerton.
Unfortunately for Miltenberger, he still only has four official
career innings under his belt.
The Titans tagged the freshman for seven runs in the bottom of
the first inning before a single out was recorded, and
Miltenberger’s rough outing resulted in a 13-2 rout. It was
the seventh straight loss for the Bruins.
Not only is UCLA (17-23, 3-6 Pac-10) on a major losing skid, the
team failed once again to win a Tuesday non-conference game. The
loss dropped their record to 0-8 in midweek games.
UCLA scored first on an RBI single by sophomore Wes Whisler, but
Fullerton lived up to its lofty national ranking in the bottom of
the frame. An error, a passed ball, two singles, two walks, and a
three-run home run by Danny Dorn gave the Titans (31-8, 5-1 Big
West) a lead they would never relinquish.
In the top of the third inning, three straight singles loaded
the bases for the Bruins with no outs, setting up the possibility
of a big inning. But redshirt freshman Chris Denove hit into a
5-4-3 double play, scoring Bret McMillan but preventing the
comeback rally UCLA needed. Sophomore Matt Thayer struck out
looking to end the inning.
Fullerton would go on to score two runs in the fourth and add
another three in the fifth inning, putting the game beyond the
Bruins’ reach. The starter for the Titans, Darric Merrell
(3-0), pitched only three innings, but Fullerton’s bullpen
finished the remaining six in style, giving up only three hits and
striking out six Bruins.
Miltenberger’s ERA jumped from 2.25 to a team-high 15.75
in the loss.
The upcoming schedule certainly doesn’t offer any relief
for UCLA. After running a tough gauntlet in losing two games to
Cal, three to USC and one to Long Beach State, the Bruins must now
travel to take on No. 4 Arizona State in Tempe tomorrow.
Senior Matt Kunes is set to open the series on the mound for
UCLA.