BRUINS SOPHOMORE PITCHER GROWS UP UCLA 7, LMU 2.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Casey Janssen left the growing pains to the opposition.

The UCLA sophomore right-hander struck out six and did not allow an earned run in six innings as the Bruins baseball team defeated Loyola Marymount 7-2 Monday in a nonconference game at LMU's Page Stadium.

The combined starting lineups featured five freshmen and eight sophomores, but youth was only a setback for one side. LMU committed four errors, including two by sophomore shortstop Mark Carroll.

Janssen worked out of jams like a veteran.

``He was awesome,'' UCLA catcher Josh Arhart said. ``Everything I called, he was throwing it right over the plate.''

Janssen (2-0) had four strikeouts after retiring the side in order the first two innings. He also retired the side in order in the fifth. Just as impressive to the Bruins was the way he handled adversity in the third and sixth innings. With such a young team, UCLA (5-3) is anticipating plenty of struggles, but the way the Bruins are handling them so far has been encouraging

Janssen had runners on second third with one out after a wild pitch in the sixth inning, but he retired the next two batters to get out of the inning without allowing a run. He also stranded two runners in the third inning. The Lions (2-3) scored two unearned runs in the third, but Janssen's heads-up fielding and ability to induce a ground out prevented further damage.

``(Mike) Kunes did the same thing (Sunday),'' UCLA coach Gary Adams said of working out of jams. ``I admire that in any pitcher. Today it was Janssen; he did a great job. That's something I haven't seen in a while. They could have walked away with it, but he wouldn't allow it. Hopefully that's contagious. It's a good sign because in every game there's going to be situations when you get in a jam and you want to be able to have someone who can stay composed and come back and get you through it.''

UCLA's hitters provided support. Freshman Wes Whisler went 3 for 4 with two RBI. Casey Grzecka and freshman Kevin Conlin had two hits each and Arhart added three hits.

LMU sophomore Billy Lockin, who went 2 for 4, ignited the Lions' biggest rally. He singled in the tying run in the third inning, which was capped by Kris Zacuto's RBI single, giving LMU a 2-1 lead.

UCLA regained the lead with three runs in the sixth inning. Adam Berry completed the scoring with a home run in the ninth inning, the first home run over the new Mikos Blue Monster in left field.

``That's the thing about this team, they've got heart,'' Adams said. ``They believe in themselves. We never give up. Even the other day when we lost 23-13, they still kept chipping away, going up there thinking they could get back in it. They never quit.''

The Bruins have yet to face their toughest opponents, but the start is better than many expected for a team picked to finish eighth in the Pacific- 10 Conference.

``Ever since the start, (Adams has) just told us to play as hard as we can and never give up,'' Arhart said. ``I think we're going to surprise a lot of people.''