Feb. 21, 1998

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The top-ranked Stanford Cardinal cruised to a 23-4 victory over No. 14 UCLA on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Cardinal have outscored the Bruins 41-10 in the two games. Sophomore Edmund Muth hit for the cycle with a home run in the third inning, a single in the fourth inning, a triple in the fifth inning and a double in the seventh inning, becoming the first Cardinal to hit for the cycle since Steve Solomon on May 9, 1992 vs. California. Stanford remained unbeaten (12-0-1) and is off to its best start since 1980.

The 23 runs Stanford scored was its highest total since April 10, 1995 @Nevada. The 23 runs UCLA allowed was the most its has allowed in modern times. The last time UCLA allowed 20 or more runs was in 1988 when Arizona State scored 21 runs.

Junior Chad Hutchinson struck out nine Bruins in his six innings of work, allowing just two earned runs to earn the victory (3-0). Muth was 4-6 with four runs batted in, four runs scored and a walk. Sophomore John Gall was 4-5 with three runs batted in, four runs scored and two walks.

The Bruins scored first as freshman Chase Utley singled home senior Eric Byrnes in the second inning, but the lead would be short-lived. Stanford took the lead for good when it scored two runs in the third inning on a two-run home run by Muth.

UCLA committed seven errors in the game, leading to 12 unearned runs.

Byrnes led the Bruins with two hits, and he also added two stolen bases.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday at 1:00 p..m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Sophomore righthander Ryan Reightley (0-0, 6.94) is scheduled to start on the mound for UCLA. Junior lefthander Brent Hoard (1-0, 5.52) is scheduled to start for Stanford.