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By Adam Karon Daily Bruin Contributor

Looking to rest their pitching staff before an upcoming weekend series against rival USC, UCLA was unable to avenge an early-season loss to Loyola Marymount Tuesday night, falling to the Lions 23-12 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The last time the two teams met, LMU (21-12, 9-3 West Coast Conference) stunned the Bruins (20-12, 5-1 Pac-10) with a ninth-inning, come-from-behind rally. This game was decided much earlier as the Lions scored 13 runs in the first four innings.

This game resembled a heavyweight boxing match, with UCLA unanimously winning the opening round as they put up seven runs to the Lions one in the first. Jim Hemming provided the spark with a grand slam that seemed to floor the Lions. In addition, the first seven UCLA batters all scored and it appeared that the Bruins would run away with a victory.

Twenty-four hits, eight hit batsmen and 23 runs later, the Lions left Jackie Robinson Stadium with their second victory over the Bruins this year. Despite the loss, UCLA players remained optimistic.

"You have to put the game in perspective," shortstop Josh Canales said. "We have a big series this weekend against 'SC, so it's very important we stay focused and come out to play."

Both teams came prepared to play, or at least hit, in a game that featured a combined 39 hits and 35 runs. The pitchers seemed somewhat flammable, however, getting lit up for twelve extra base hits.

The Bruins went into the game with a "pitcher by committee" approach, head coach Gary Adams said.

"We knew we were going to use our bullpen," Adams said. "We want to give those guys work. We just walked too many and hit too many."

LMU batters took advantage of an off-night by the UCLA bullpen as six different batters hit home runs. Catcher Scott Walter went 2 for 3 with a homer, four RBI and five runs scored. Third baseman Jason Aspito went 4 for 6 with a home run and four RBI.

Every starter for both sides got a hit, and twelve players had multi-hit games.

UCLA junior first baseman Garrett Atkins led the way for UCLA, going 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBI.

"We hit and got ten runs in the first three innings," Atkins said. "It just wasn't enough. They were hitting our pitchers, but in the long run it's really meaningless."

The loss dropped the Bruins' record to 20-12 heading into their series against USC. Scoring 12 runs, though, leaves the team with something to build on.

"Our bats looked pretty good," Atkins said. "I liked our whole approach to hitting."

Leftfielder Bill Scott, who currently ranks third in the Pac-10 in batting average, had a pair of hits and is now hitting just over .410. Catcher Forrest Johnson, who was the Pac-10 player of the week last week, continued his torrid tear with a pair of hits and an RBI.

LMU moved their weekend ace Mike Shultz to start the game in hopes of beating a nationally-ranked team. Last time the Bruins could not figure him out, but that changed Tuesday night.

"We did a lot better against him this time," Adams said. "Loyola just came out and swung the bat."

Lions' reliever Justin Abreu got the win - his first of the year - while UCLA's Mike Kunes was saddled with the loss. The Bruins used six pitchers on the night, but were unable to stop a Lions team that scored thirty runs in a game earlier this year.

One bright spot for the UCLA bullpen came in the form of Tyler Dersom, who finished the last one and two-thirds innings striking out two without allowing a single run.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Bruins, who had also won thirteen out of their last fourteen games. The team is now 4 for 5 in midweek games that usually feature the bullpen.

"This was a tough one," Canales said. "A game like this, you just have to throw it out the window and not let it affect the way we've been playing. If we hit this way this weekend, we'll come out with W's all the way across."