UCLA
Gonzaga
UCLA Set for Weekend Series with Gonzaga
February 23, 2017 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA baseball team will conclude its seven-game homestand to begin the season this weekend when it hosts Gonzaga for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The series starts Friday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. (PT).
Probable Starters
Friday, Feb.24 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
UCLA โ Griffin Canning, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
GONZ โ Eli Morgan, RHP, Jr. (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 25 - 2:00 p.m. (PT)
UCLA โ Jake Bird, RHP, Jr. (1-0, 1.29 ERA)
GONZ โ Justin Vernia, RHP, Sr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 26 - 1:00 p.m. (PT)
UCLA โ Jon Olsen, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
GONZ โ Casey Legumina, RHP, Fr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
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Promotions
Saturday is the first of two Military and Armed Forces Appreciation games on Saturday at 2 p.m. Each veteran and current member of the Armed Forces is eligible for four free admissions with valid proof of service, and the first 300 fans will receive American flags upon entry. Every Sunday is Little League day at Jackie Robinson Stadium with kids being able to run the bases after the game.
Week in Review
The Bruins collected a pair of wins over the opening weekend against San Jose State but dropped its midweek contest against UC Riverside.
- On Saturday, UCLA won its home opener, 3-2. Griffin Canning tossed 6.0 shutout innings with eight strikeouts. INF Ryan Kreidler drove in two runs including the game-winning run in the ninth inning.
- On Sunday, UCLA clinched the series with a 10-1 victory. Jake Bird took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished the day with six strikeouts. Daniel Amaral highlighted a seven-run fifth inning with his first career home run. Daniel Rosica tied a career-best with three RBIs.
- On Tuesday, UCLA fell to UC Riverside 3-2 as Justin Hooper tallied 10 strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief and Jon Olsen threw 3.0 shutout innings in his first start of the season. Hooper's 10 strikeouts were the most by a UCLA pitcher since Kyle Molnar on March 20, 2016 vs. Washington State.
- The Bruins collected 15 strikeouts as a team against UC Riverside, the most in a single game since March 19, 2016 against WSU.
- The Bruins are tops in the Pac-12 in opposing batting average at .103 and second in ERA at 1.67 going into the weekend.
Scouting Gonzaga
Gonzaga started the season going 2-2 over the opening weekend with a pair of wins over Duke but dropping two to Indiana at the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz. Justin Vernia opened the year with a sterling performance on the mound versus the Blue Devils, retiring the first 20 batters he faced and allowing just one unearned run and three hits in 8.0 innings. Jeff Boling, last year's WCC Player of the Year, and Sam Brown led the team with seven hits and a .412 average.
The Bruins vs. The Bulldogs
UCLA has faced Gonzaga 20 previous times, posting a record of 15-5 against the Bulldogs. The Bruins last played Gonzaga in 2015 when UCLA took two out of three games from the Bulldogs and UCLA is 7-3 against the Zags in the last 10 games. Under John Savage, UCLA is 2-1 against Gonzaga.
Savage to Lead USA Baseball
UCLA Head Coach John Savage was named the manager for the 2017 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Savage previously served as an assistant coach on the 2000 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. The 2000 team finished the summer with a 27-3-1 record that won a gold medal at Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands. The U.S. will host three international friendship series against Chinese Taipei, Cuba, and Japan in 2017.
Preseason Rankings
The Bruins were tabbed to finish fifth in the Preseason Pac-12 Coaches Poll. UCLA received 54 points overall. Prior to the season, D1Baseball.com ranked the top position players in the country and several Bruins made the positional lists:
Griffin Canning - SP - No. 16
Sean Bouchard - 1B - No. 24
Nick Valaika - SS - No. 38
Ryan Kreidler - 3B - No. 39
Chase Strumpfย - 2B - No. 39
Brian Gadsby - RP - No. 39
Michael Toglia - OF -ย No. 50
Jake Bird - SP - No. 85
Daniel Amaral - OF - No. 149
Jon Olsen - SP - No. 165
Justin Hooper - SP - No. 200
Canning Effect
Griffin Canning made the jump last season to UCLA's Friday starter and has excelled on the bump for the Bruins. Earlier this season, he was selected to the Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List and named a Preseason All-America third team selection by Baseball America. Last season, he totaled 95 strikeouts good for fourth in Pac-12, including 61 during conference play, the second most in the Pac-12. He lasted at least 5.0 innings in all 15 starts in 2016, including throwing 7.0 or more innings in eight starts. He was also named a Freshman All-American in 2015.
Bruin Debuts
In total, 11 UCLA players made their collegiate debuts through the first three games. Ryan Kreidler is hitting .375 with four RBIs and drove in the game-winning run on Opening Day. Michael Toglia started all three games in right field and collected his first career hit and RBI. Gavin Johns made his first start behind the plate on Tuesday and went 1-for-2 in his debut. Ryan Garcia and Nick Scheidler each threw one inning and collected one strikeout in relief.
Baby Bruins
The Bruins welcome 14 newcomers to Westwood for the 2017 season. The recruiting class was ranked No. 16 by Baseball America. Three newcomers had been previously selected in the MLB draft as Ryan Kreidler, Michael Toglia and Jeremy Ydens were each 2016 MLB Draft selections. Over the summer, Toglia was named the MVP of the West Coast League in 2016 after hitting .306 with a league-best seven home runs and 40 RBIs. Toglia (No. 8), Kreidler (No. 22) and Chase Strumpf (No. 85) were named to D1Baseball's Top Freshman Prospects list. Incoming catcher Will McInerny was named the 2016 CIF-SS Division 4 Player of the Year, while Gavin Johns transferred from Yavapai College and was named an All-NJCAA Region second team selection.
It's a Family Affair
UCLA has bred a strong athletic tradition and many current players are following in the footsteps of their notable family members.
- Daniel Amaral's father Rich and brother Beau played baseball at UCLA, while his sister Jessica played softball.
- Jordan Myrow's father John and godfather Dave Roberts played baseball at UCLA.
- Jake Pries' father Jeff played baseball at UCLA.
- Nick Valaika's brother Pat played baseball at UCLA and was a member of the 2013 National Championship.
Watch Live
UCLA is scheduled to be featured on television at least 16 times in 2017 with 15 of those contests being carried by the conference's Pac-12 Networks. The Bruins first TV game will be the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic matchup with USC on March 5.
Listen Live
This season all 56 regular season games and any potential postseason games will be broadcast live online at uclabruins.com. UCLA radio veterans John Ramey and Tim Wilhelm return to call all of the action at home and on the road.
Follow UCLA Baseball
Follow UCLA Baseball all season long on their various social media platforms.
Twitter: @uclabaseball
Instagram: @uclabruinsbaseball
Facebook: UCLA Baseball
Snapchat: ucla.athletics
