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Friday, 5/30/97 Record-breaking Bruin offense still on the ball in postseason BASEBALL: Heinrichs, Glaus, Valent lead team attack as UCLA aims for national title

By Tim Yun Daily Bruin Contributor The blistering sun isn't the only thing that is scorching Southern California these days. On the baseball diamond, the Bruin offense has experienced an early heat wave as they surge into the College World Series. A potent offense is nothing new to the Bruins. During the regular season, UCLA put up impressive statistics and shattered numerous offensive records in the process. The team continued to swing a hot bat in the Midwest Regionals, outscoring their opponents 72-24 in a mere six games. After a surprising loss to an upstart Harvard team in the first game of the regionals, the Bruins proceeded to take their frustrations out on opposing pitchers as they won their next five games to advance to Omaha, Neb. Over the weekend, UCLA beat up on one team in particular. Of the 72 runs that were scored in the regionals, 36 of them came against the hosting Oklahoma State team. Needing to sweep the final two games to advance to the "elite eight," the Bruins pounded the ball for 36 runs on 51 hits, five of which were home runs. The squad's postseason performance is indicative of their entire season. For the year, the team has been one of the most productive offensive teams in school history. They set records in runs scored in a season (623), runs scored in one inning (13) and doubles in a season (172). Combined with stellar pitching, the Bruins were able to set a record for wins in a season. As a team they have a .339 average and pounded out 140 home runs, shattering the previous record of 116 set in 1987. The Bruins have also provided tremendous run support for their pitchers by averaging 9.6 runs per game. The offensive attack is led by the powerful trio of senior leadoff hitter Jon Heinrichs, junior three-hole hitter Troy Glaus and sophomore cleanup man Eric Valent. The offensive leader of the team has been Glaus. Rated as the second-best power hitter in the country by Baseball America, Glaus has lived up to the expectations and the hype that surrounded him before and during the baseball season. Destined to become one of the great players in UCLA history, Glaus has left his mark in the record books. In perhaps his last season in a UCLA uniform, Glaus has broken numerous school and Pacific 10 records. He is the all-time career home run leader in Bruin and Pac-10 history. His 32 home runs this season is a new record for single-season homers in school history, and ties him with Mark McGwire for the Pac-10 record. Heinrichs also etched his name in the record book by setting a new school record for doubles (28) and hits with 106. He also set a new Pac-10 record with 222 total bases this season. Alongside this dynamic duo, Valent has quietly put together a remarkable season. For the season, he is batting .348, with 28 home runs and 91 RBIs. His timely hitting over the weekend earned him most valuable player honors in the Midwest Region. He went 11 for 27 (.407) and scored every time he got on base, while smashing six home runs and driving in 15 runs. But despite all of the individual and team accomplishments, there is one other thing that the team wants to do this season - win the school's first baseball national championship. As tournament play begins in Omaha, UCLA hopes that the offense surge will continue and lead them to the national title. CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin Sophomore Eric Valent watches a home run leave the park during the Midwest Regionals in Oklahoma, one of six he hit at the regionals and one of 28 he has hit this year. Related Links: NCAA