UCLA starts college baseball season with 3-0 record

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If the opening weekend of college baseball is any indication, UCLA has improved its hitting attack with the addition of several promising newcomers. The Bruins had 18 hits Sunday to defeat Cal State Northridge, 14-5, and finish the weekend with a 3-0 record.

Beau Amaral, a freshman outfielder from Huntington Beach, went four for five and hit a two-run home run against the Matadors. Third baseman Dean Espy, a junior college transfer from Arizona, hit a home run and had three runs batted in. Cody Keefer, a freshman outfielder, had four hits and six walks in three games.

And most encouraging, Dan Klein was flawless in his role as closer, throwing scoreless innings on Saturday and Sunday.

In other college baseball action, USC took two of three games in San Luis Obispo, knocking off Cal Poly, 9-4, in the series finale. Cade Kreuter, a freshman and the son of USC Coach Chad Kreuter, hit a two-run home run.

Cal State Fullerton (1-2) picked up its first victory with an 8-1 win over Long Beach State. Tyler Pill gave up one unearned run in seven innings

UC Riverside (3-0) came away with a three-game sweep of Brigham Young. Robert Brantly hit two home runs in an 11-6 victory.

Pepperdine freshman second baseman Joe Sever tied a school record going five for five and scoring four runs in an 11-7 victory over Oregon.

-- Eric Sondheimer