No. 1 UCLA (37-8) vs. Long Beach State (11-34)
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
UCLA Hosts LBSU In Final Home Midweek Of 2019
No. 1 UCLA (37-8) hosts Long Beach State (11-34) at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium, one of just four scheduled home games for the Bruins in May. UCLA previously bested LBSU 2-0 on Mar. 12 at Blair Field. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, May 7 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Felix Rubi, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
LBSU - John Sheaks, RHP, RSr. (1-1, 9.27 ERA)
The Story So Far
UCLA is 37-8 to start the 2019 campaign and 16-5 in Pac-12 play, winning all 11 of its weekend series, taking two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic, and posting an unbeaten 9-0 record in midweeks. At 37-8, UCLA is second in the country in winning percentage (.822) and has the best record through 45 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 35-10 (1979).
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the series at Arizona State, UCLA retained its place at the top of the polls. On Monday, the Bruins were tabbed No. 1 in the nation by D1Baseball, Baseball America, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the NCBWA, and Perfect Game for the eighth consecutive week. In addition, the Bruins topped the list of Collegiate Baseball for the fifth consecutive week, maintaining their status as the consensus No. 1 team in the country. UCLA jumped to No. 1 in mid-March after taking two of three from defending national champion Oregon State, the first time the Bruins had been atop the rankings since the final polls of 2013. At eight weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.
The Week In Review
UCLA went 3-1 in an all-away week, topping Pepperdine 8-5 before taking two of three from ASU in Phoenix.
UCLA has won all 11 of its weekend series this year, the longest streak by the Bruins since the program won 14 straight over the 2014-15 campaigns. The Bruins are the only team in Division I who has yet to drop a weekend series in 2019.
UCLA Takes Over National Lead In ERA
For the second consecutive week, UCLA is leading the nation in team ERA. The Bruins enter their midweek contest with a 2.74 ERA after limiting ASU's No. 2-ranked offense to 13 runs over three games, including just five runs combined in games one and two. UCLA also ranks among the nation's best in hits allowed per nine innings (6.3, second) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.13, sixth). UCLA has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 29 of its 45 games this season (64%). Were the season to end today, UCLA's ERA would be the fifth-best in program history.
Ralston Named Pac-12 Pitcher Of The Week
Junior right-hander Jack Ralston was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on Monday after recording a masterful performance on Saturday against ASU. It's the fifth time that UCLA has had the Pitcher of the Week over the last eight weeks (Zach Pettway, Ryan Garcia x3), while no other league school has won it more than twice all year. Ralston pitched seven shutout innings against the Sun Devils, striking out seven while giving up just three hits. After a leadoff single in the second, Ralston went on to retire 17 consecutive batters, topping his own team-best streak of 14 set against Utah.
Bruin Starters On A Roll
A huge part of UCLA's success in the past weeks has been the dominance of its starting pitchers. Bruin starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games, and one earned run or fewer in eight of 11. UCLA starters have combined for a 2.16 ERA in that span. The current weekend rotation of Ryan Garcia, Jack Ralston, and Jesse Bergin is a combined 19-0 with 214 strikeouts in 187 1/3 innings.
To Be The Best, You Have To Beat The Best
So far in 2019, the Bruins have played - and won - five series against ranked teams, including three currently in the top-10. The Bruins have won series against No. 2 Stanford, No. 7 Georgia Tech, and No. 8 East Carolina University. The Bruins had beaten four top-10 teams - the only club in the country to do so - until Oregon State dropped to No. 11 this week.
Last Time Out Against LBSU
UCLA and LBSU previously met up on Mar. 12, 2019 at Blair Field, with the Bruins emerging victorious 2-0 thanks to a leadoff home run from Garrett Mitchell and a combined shutout from seven UCLA pitchers. Ryan Garcia got it started with two shutout innings - in his first start of 2019 - while Sean Mullen earned the win with a 2.1 inning relief outing. Michael Townsend added 2/3 of an inning before Jake Filby, Nate Hadley, Kyla Mora, and Holden Powell each produced scoreless frames. Mitchell knocked in UCLA's other run with an infield single in the fifth inning.
Holden' It Down At The End Of The Game
Sophomore closer Holden Powell has been one of college baseball's top closers this year, leading to his inclusion on the Preseason and Midseason NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch Lists. He paces the Pac-12 with 14 saves, third-most ever in UCLA single season history and the most since David Berg's NCAA-record 24 in 2013. Since Mar. 17, he's allowed just one earned run over a span of 21 innings, accruing 28 strikeouts in that time compared to just four hits. Powell has earned six-out saves in each of the last two weekends, including a career-high four-strikeout performance against a potent ASU lineup on May 3 to preserve a 3-2 win.
Midweek Notes
UCLA is an undefeated 9-0 in midweeks this season, going 4-0 at home and 5-0 on the road. Garrett Mitchell (.462/.500/.641), Noah Cardenas (.400/.500/.450), and Jake Pries (.308/.455/.731) have all feasted on midweek pitching this year. As a team, the Bruins are outhitting their opponents .294 to .192 in midweeks while holding a 1.89 to 5.37 ERA advantage. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles).
Pitching And Defense Is The Name Of the Game
A year after ranking third in the country with a .982 fielding percentage, UCLA is back in the top-10 this year at .982 (third). The Bruins are the only team in the country to rank top-five in both fielding percentage and ERA, and one of two to rank in the top-10 for both (Georgia).
Savage Records Pair of Milestone Wins in 2019
UCLA head coach John Savage has secured a pair of milestone wins during the 2019 season, earning his 500th at UCLA and 600th overall. His 500th with the Bruins came after a Friday night victory over Oregon State on Mar. 15, making him just the third bench boss in program history to reach that benchmark. Savage then notched his 600th overall after topping East Carolina University 7-5 on Apr. 12.
Cardenas Scorches The Sun Devils
Noah Cardenas has been one of UCLA's hottest hitters in the last few weeks, a trend which was underscored by his monster performance in the desert over the weekend. Cardenas started all three games of the series - a career first - and capitalized on that playing time by posting a 9-13 line (.692) with five runs scored. He went 5-5 and scored four runs in Saturday's 18-3 rout, hitting his second homer of the year and finishing a double short of the cycle. He followed that up with a 3-4 line on Sunday, singling in his first three plate appearances to give him hits in eight straight at-bats, the longest streak by a Bruin in 2019. Since Apr. 7, he's batting .553 (26-47) with four extra-base hits. He now leads the team in batting overall this year at .412.
Grab Some Pine
The UCLA pitching staff has proven adept at punching out batters this year, leading the Pac-12 and ranking sixth in the nation with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. UCLA has punched out at least 10 batters in 28 of its 45 games. UCLA has three of the top-10 strikeout pitchers in the Pac-12, including Ryan Garcia (77, third), Jesse Bergin (71, fifth), and Jack Ralston (66, eighth).
Mitchell Tearing It Up
Leadoff batter Garrett Mitchell has been tearing the cover off the ball over his last five games, going 13-22 (.591) with a pair of three-hit games as well a standout performance that saw him record career-highs in hits (four), RBIs (four), and runs (three) on Saturday at ASU. In the same span, he's drilled five extra-base hits, including his fourth homer of the year.
Offense Heats Up
Over the last month, UCLA is averaging 7.1 runs per game and has five regulars hitting .300 or better: Noah Cardenas (.510), Garrett Mitchell (.378), Chase Strumpf (.339), Michael Toglia (.333), and Jack Stronach (.328). For the season, UCLA ranks in the top-three league-wide in batting average (.291) and on-base percentage (.386) while ranking fourth in runs (289) and fifth in slugging (.455).
Hot At Home
UCLA has won 23 of 27 home games so far this year, right in line with the program's .744 winning percentage (64-22) at Jackie Robinson Stadium since the start of the 2017 season. The Bruins have won 16 consecutive series - including nine Pac-12 sets - on their home field dating back to April 21-23, 2017 (Oregon State).
Steady Strumpf
UCLA Preseason All-American second baseman Chase Strumpf has been a steadying force in the middle of the lineup. He currently holds a team-best 36-game reached base streak, and has only been kept off base in two games total this year. He has a hit in 37 of 45 games this year, the most of any Bruin.
On The Road Again
After staying in California for the entirety of March and April, UCLA will play a heavy stretch of road games in May. UCLA has just four regular season home games left and will spend three of the final four weekends out of state, traveling to Arizona State, Washington State, and Oregon.
Feeling A Draft
UCLA was well-represented in Baseball America's list of Midseason Top-400 Draft Prospects, as six current players and six commits were included. Current Bruins included Chase Strumpf (No. 35), Michael Toglia (62), Ryan Garcia (116), Ryan Kreidler (158), Jack Ralston (209), and Jeremy Ydens (295). UCLA commits included on the list were Corbin Carroll (No. 6), Evan Fitterer (97), Emanuel Dean (150), Adrian Chaidez (281), Michael Curialle (282), and Joshua Hahn (309).
Triple Threat
The Bruins have legged out 20 triples this season, a figure which ranks eighth nationally and second in the Pac-12. Five separate Bruins have multiple three-baggers, led by Matt McLain's six (seventh nationally, tied for the most by a Bruin since 1988). Garrett Mitchell has four while Jake Pries and Michael Toglia have three apiece.
Don't Mess With The Bull(pen)
UCLA's bullpen has been one of the team's strongest assets all season. Through 151 innings, Bruin relievers have combined to record a 2.44 ERA with strong peripherals including 11.6 K/9 and 5.4 hits per nine innings ratios. The Bruin bullpen has gone unscored upon 21 times in 45 games this year. Standouts include Kyle Mora (NCAA-high 34 appearances this year), Holden Powell (league-leading 14 saves), and Nate Hadley (7-1, 3.62 hits per nine innings).
Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Something about the seventh inning gives the Bruins an extra pep in their step. They are outscoring their opponents 55-12 in the seventh inning for the season, a plus-43 run differential. UCLA's next-best single-inning differential is the second (37-12, plus-25). The Bruins are outscoring their opponents 289-143 overall for the year.
WHIP It Good
At 1.07, UCLA enters the weekend with the lowest WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in the country. The Bruins have posted a sub-1.00 WHIP 21 times in 45 games, including in 10 of the first 11 games of the year. Ryan Garcia (0.89) and Nate Hadley (0.88) have the lowest WHIPs on the team among active pitchers.
Comeback Kids
UCLA has proven undaunted when facing a deficit this season, as 17 of the team's 37 wins this season have been of the come-from-behind variety (45%).
Off To A Good Start
UCLA is an unbeaten 12-0 this season when scoring in the first inning. Similarly, the Bruins are 24-3 (.889 winning percentage) when scoring first, compared to a 13-5 (.722) mark when the opposition gets on the board first.
Shutting Them Out
UCLA blanked Utah 5-0 on Apr. 26 to record the team's eighth shutout of the season, which ranks one behind national leader Tennessee. UCLA has recorded a shutout in six of its 11 weekend series and in two midweek games.
Nailing It Down
The Bruins have been rock-steady at the back end of games this year, posting a 34-0 record when leading after eight innings. UCLA is 31-1 when leading after seven, suffering its first and only loss in such a scenario on Sunday at ASU.
Bruins Earn Historic Series Win At Stanford
UCLA's early-April matchup at Stanford, featuring the top-two-ranked teams in the country, was a rarity in college baseball. It was just the 13th-ever matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, and the first featuring two Pac-12 teams since 1988. It was just the third time in those 13 instances where the road team won the game/series.
Double-Digit Hits
As a team, UCLA has recorded double-digit hits 23 times this season in 45 games. Their hit output has increased recently, as the Bruins have recorded 10 or more hits in nine of their last 11 games, including a season-high 22 at ASU on Saturday, the most single-game hits for UCLA since Apr. 14, 2012. The Bruins are an undefeated 23-0 when putting up double digits in the hit column.
Fastest To 30
With UCLA's win over Cal on Apr. 20, the 2019 Bruins matched the 2010 club as the fastest team in program history to reach the 30-win plateau. John Savage has now led the Bruins to 30 wins in 40 games or less three times in his career (2015 the other).
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
UCLA Hosts LBSU In Final Home Midweek Of 2019
No. 1 UCLA (37-8) hosts Long Beach State (11-34) at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium, one of just four scheduled home games for the Bruins in May. UCLA previously bested LBSU 2-0 on Mar. 12 at Blair Field. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, May 7 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Felix Rubi, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
LBSU - John Sheaks, RHP, RSr. (1-1, 9.27 ERA)
The Story So Far
UCLA is 37-8 to start the 2019 campaign and 16-5 in Pac-12 play, winning all 11 of its weekend series, taking two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic, and posting an unbeaten 9-0 record in midweeks. At 37-8, UCLA is second in the country in winning percentage (.822) and has the best record through 45 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 35-10 (1979).
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the series at Arizona State, UCLA retained its place at the top of the polls. On Monday, the Bruins were tabbed No. 1 in the nation by D1Baseball, Baseball America, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the NCBWA, and Perfect Game for the eighth consecutive week. In addition, the Bruins topped the list of Collegiate Baseball for the fifth consecutive week, maintaining their status as the consensus No. 1 team in the country. UCLA jumped to No. 1 in mid-March after taking two of three from defending national champion Oregon State, the first time the Bruins had been atop the rankings since the final polls of 2013. At eight weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.
The Week In Review
UCLA went 3-1 in an all-away week, topping Pepperdine 8-5 before taking two of three from ASU in Phoenix.
- At Pepperdine, The Bruins scored in six consecutive innings for the second time this year, racing out to a lead as large as 6-0 and eventually winning 8-5. Pepperdine made it interesting after a four-run fifth inning made it a two-run game, but UCLA outscored the Waves 2-1 the rest of the way to see out the win. Garrett Mitchell secured his second straight three-hit day to lead the Bruin offense, while Ryan Kreidler doubled twice and scored two runs and Jake Pries opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning. UCLA used seven different pitchers, with Sean Mullen drawing the start and throwing three shutout innings. Nate Hadley earned the win with a scoreless seventh, improving to 7-1.
- UCLA pulled out a tight 3-2 win in the series opener at ASU, with Holden Powell shutting down the heart of the Devils' order to preserve the lead and record a six-out save. Ryan Garcia put the Bruins in position to win with seven innings of two-run ball, but Powell got the Bruins out of danger in both the eighth and ninth as ASU got the game-tying run on both times. Jack Stronach drove in a run with a sac fly, singled and later scored, and made a critical catch on the warning track in the fifth. Kevin Kendall (2-3, RBI) and Garrett Mitchell (2-4) also had nice days with the bat.
- The Bruins had perhaps their finest team offensive performance of the John Savage era on Saturday, routing the Sun Devils 18-3 while setting season-bests in run, hits (22, most by a Bruin team since 2012), and home runs (program-record seven). UCLA scored in each of the first eight innings of the game, a constant stream of offense that was punctuated by a momentum-seizing grand slam from Chase Strumpf in the fourth and an eight-spot in the eighth featuring three home runs. Jake Pries had a pair of homers to lead UCLA's home-run barrage. A fraction of the offense would have sufficed as Jack Ralston was dominant for the Bruins, giving up just three hits and striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. He retired 17 straight batters after a leadoff single in the second, the longest streak by a Bruin this year.
- The Bruins were edged 8-7 in a back-and-forth series finale. ASU went up early on a first inning Hunter Bishop grand slam, but the Bruins stormed back for seven unanswered to take a 7-4 lead. However, ASU got one back in the sixth before producing a decisive three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth.
UCLA has won all 11 of its weekend series this year, the longest streak by the Bruins since the program won 14 straight over the 2014-15 campaigns. The Bruins are the only team in Division I who has yet to drop a weekend series in 2019.
UCLA Takes Over National Lead In ERA
For the second consecutive week, UCLA is leading the nation in team ERA. The Bruins enter their midweek contest with a 2.74 ERA after limiting ASU's No. 2-ranked offense to 13 runs over three games, including just five runs combined in games one and two. UCLA also ranks among the nation's best in hits allowed per nine innings (6.3, second) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.13, sixth). UCLA has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 29 of its 45 games this season (64%). Were the season to end today, UCLA's ERA would be the fifth-best in program history.
Ralston Named Pac-12 Pitcher Of The Week
Junior right-hander Jack Ralston was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on Monday after recording a masterful performance on Saturday against ASU. It's the fifth time that UCLA has had the Pitcher of the Week over the last eight weeks (Zach Pettway, Ryan Garcia x3), while no other league school has won it more than twice all year. Ralston pitched seven shutout innings against the Sun Devils, striking out seven while giving up just three hits. After a leadoff single in the second, Ralston went on to retire 17 consecutive batters, topping his own team-best streak of 14 set against Utah.
Bruin Starters On A Roll
A huge part of UCLA's success in the past weeks has been the dominance of its starting pitchers. Bruin starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games, and one earned run or fewer in eight of 11. UCLA starters have combined for a 2.16 ERA in that span. The current weekend rotation of Ryan Garcia, Jack Ralston, and Jesse Bergin is a combined 19-0 with 214 strikeouts in 187 1/3 innings.
To Be The Best, You Have To Beat The Best
So far in 2019, the Bruins have played - and won - five series against ranked teams, including three currently in the top-10. The Bruins have won series against No. 2 Stanford, No. 7 Georgia Tech, and No. 8 East Carolina University. The Bruins had beaten four top-10 teams - the only club in the country to do so - until Oregon State dropped to No. 11 this week.
Last Time Out Against LBSU
UCLA and LBSU previously met up on Mar. 12, 2019 at Blair Field, with the Bruins emerging victorious 2-0 thanks to a leadoff home run from Garrett Mitchell and a combined shutout from seven UCLA pitchers. Ryan Garcia got it started with two shutout innings - in his first start of 2019 - while Sean Mullen earned the win with a 2.1 inning relief outing. Michael Townsend added 2/3 of an inning before Jake Filby, Nate Hadley, Kyla Mora, and Holden Powell each produced scoreless frames. Mitchell knocked in UCLA's other run with an infield single in the fifth inning.
Holden' It Down At The End Of The Game
Sophomore closer Holden Powell has been one of college baseball's top closers this year, leading to his inclusion on the Preseason and Midseason NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch Lists. He paces the Pac-12 with 14 saves, third-most ever in UCLA single season history and the most since David Berg's NCAA-record 24 in 2013. Since Mar. 17, he's allowed just one earned run over a span of 21 innings, accruing 28 strikeouts in that time compared to just four hits. Powell has earned six-out saves in each of the last two weekends, including a career-high four-strikeout performance against a potent ASU lineup on May 3 to preserve a 3-2 win.
Midweek Notes
UCLA is an undefeated 9-0 in midweeks this season, going 4-0 at home and 5-0 on the road. Garrett Mitchell (.462/.500/.641), Noah Cardenas (.400/.500/.450), and Jake Pries (.308/.455/.731) have all feasted on midweek pitching this year. As a team, the Bruins are outhitting their opponents .294 to .192 in midweeks while holding a 1.89 to 5.37 ERA advantage. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles).
Pitching And Defense Is The Name Of the Game
A year after ranking third in the country with a .982 fielding percentage, UCLA is back in the top-10 this year at .982 (third). The Bruins are the only team in the country to rank top-five in both fielding percentage and ERA, and one of two to rank in the top-10 for both (Georgia).
Savage Records Pair of Milestone Wins in 2019
UCLA head coach John Savage has secured a pair of milestone wins during the 2019 season, earning his 500th at UCLA and 600th overall. His 500th with the Bruins came after a Friday night victory over Oregon State on Mar. 15, making him just the third bench boss in program history to reach that benchmark. Savage then notched his 600th overall after topping East Carolina University 7-5 on Apr. 12.
Cardenas Scorches The Sun Devils
Noah Cardenas has been one of UCLA's hottest hitters in the last few weeks, a trend which was underscored by his monster performance in the desert over the weekend. Cardenas started all three games of the series - a career first - and capitalized on that playing time by posting a 9-13 line (.692) with five runs scored. He went 5-5 and scored four runs in Saturday's 18-3 rout, hitting his second homer of the year and finishing a double short of the cycle. He followed that up with a 3-4 line on Sunday, singling in his first three plate appearances to give him hits in eight straight at-bats, the longest streak by a Bruin in 2019. Since Apr. 7, he's batting .553 (26-47) with four extra-base hits. He now leads the team in batting overall this year at .412.
Grab Some Pine
The UCLA pitching staff has proven adept at punching out batters this year, leading the Pac-12 and ranking sixth in the nation with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. UCLA has punched out at least 10 batters in 28 of its 45 games. UCLA has three of the top-10 strikeout pitchers in the Pac-12, including Ryan Garcia (77, third), Jesse Bergin (71, fifth), and Jack Ralston (66, eighth).
Mitchell Tearing It Up
Leadoff batter Garrett Mitchell has been tearing the cover off the ball over his last five games, going 13-22 (.591) with a pair of three-hit games as well a standout performance that saw him record career-highs in hits (four), RBIs (four), and runs (three) on Saturday at ASU. In the same span, he's drilled five extra-base hits, including his fourth homer of the year.
Offense Heats Up
Over the last month, UCLA is averaging 7.1 runs per game and has five regulars hitting .300 or better: Noah Cardenas (.510), Garrett Mitchell (.378), Chase Strumpf (.339), Michael Toglia (.333), and Jack Stronach (.328). For the season, UCLA ranks in the top-three league-wide in batting average (.291) and on-base percentage (.386) while ranking fourth in runs (289) and fifth in slugging (.455).
Hot At Home
UCLA has won 23 of 27 home games so far this year, right in line with the program's .744 winning percentage (64-22) at Jackie Robinson Stadium since the start of the 2017 season. The Bruins have won 16 consecutive series - including nine Pac-12 sets - on their home field dating back to April 21-23, 2017 (Oregon State).
Steady Strumpf
UCLA Preseason All-American second baseman Chase Strumpf has been a steadying force in the middle of the lineup. He currently holds a team-best 36-game reached base streak, and has only been kept off base in two games total this year. He has a hit in 37 of 45 games this year, the most of any Bruin.
On The Road Again
After staying in California for the entirety of March and April, UCLA will play a heavy stretch of road games in May. UCLA has just four regular season home games left and will spend three of the final four weekends out of state, traveling to Arizona State, Washington State, and Oregon.
Feeling A Draft
UCLA was well-represented in Baseball America's list of Midseason Top-400 Draft Prospects, as six current players and six commits were included. Current Bruins included Chase Strumpf (No. 35), Michael Toglia (62), Ryan Garcia (116), Ryan Kreidler (158), Jack Ralston (209), and Jeremy Ydens (295). UCLA commits included on the list were Corbin Carroll (No. 6), Evan Fitterer (97), Emanuel Dean (150), Adrian Chaidez (281), Michael Curialle (282), and Joshua Hahn (309).
Triple Threat
The Bruins have legged out 20 triples this season, a figure which ranks eighth nationally and second in the Pac-12. Five separate Bruins have multiple three-baggers, led by Matt McLain's six (seventh nationally, tied for the most by a Bruin since 1988). Garrett Mitchell has four while Jake Pries and Michael Toglia have three apiece.
Don't Mess With The Bull(pen)
UCLA's bullpen has been one of the team's strongest assets all season. Through 151 innings, Bruin relievers have combined to record a 2.44 ERA with strong peripherals including 11.6 K/9 and 5.4 hits per nine innings ratios. The Bruin bullpen has gone unscored upon 21 times in 45 games this year. Standouts include Kyle Mora (NCAA-high 34 appearances this year), Holden Powell (league-leading 14 saves), and Nate Hadley (7-1, 3.62 hits per nine innings).
Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Something about the seventh inning gives the Bruins an extra pep in their step. They are outscoring their opponents 55-12 in the seventh inning for the season, a plus-43 run differential. UCLA's next-best single-inning differential is the second (37-12, plus-25). The Bruins are outscoring their opponents 289-143 overall for the year.
WHIP It Good
At 1.07, UCLA enters the weekend with the lowest WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in the country. The Bruins have posted a sub-1.00 WHIP 21 times in 45 games, including in 10 of the first 11 games of the year. Ryan Garcia (0.89) and Nate Hadley (0.88) have the lowest WHIPs on the team among active pitchers.
Comeback Kids
UCLA has proven undaunted when facing a deficit this season, as 17 of the team's 37 wins this season have been of the come-from-behind variety (45%).
Off To A Good Start
UCLA is an unbeaten 12-0 this season when scoring in the first inning. Similarly, the Bruins are 24-3 (.889 winning percentage) when scoring first, compared to a 13-5 (.722) mark when the opposition gets on the board first.
Shutting Them Out
UCLA blanked Utah 5-0 on Apr. 26 to record the team's eighth shutout of the season, which ranks one behind national leader Tennessee. UCLA has recorded a shutout in six of its 11 weekend series and in two midweek games.
Nailing It Down
The Bruins have been rock-steady at the back end of games this year, posting a 34-0 record when leading after eight innings. UCLA is 31-1 when leading after seven, suffering its first and only loss in such a scenario on Sunday at ASU.
Bruins Earn Historic Series Win At Stanford
UCLA's early-April matchup at Stanford, featuring the top-two-ranked teams in the country, was a rarity in college baseball. It was just the 13th-ever matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, and the first featuring two Pac-12 teams since 1988. It was just the third time in those 13 instances where the road team won the game/series.
Double-Digit Hits
As a team, UCLA has recorded double-digit hits 23 times this season in 45 games. Their hit output has increased recently, as the Bruins have recorded 10 or more hits in nine of their last 11 games, including a season-high 22 at ASU on Saturday, the most single-game hits for UCLA since Apr. 14, 2012. The Bruins are an undefeated 23-0 when putting up double digits in the hit column.
Fastest To 30
With UCLA's win over Cal on Apr. 20, the 2019 Bruins matched the 2010 club as the fastest team in program history to reach the 30-win plateau. John Savage has now led the Bruins to 30 wins in 40 games or less three times in his career (2015 the other).