Los Angeles Super Regional
No. 1 UCLA (51-9) vs. No. 13 Michigan (44-19)
Friday, Jun. 7, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, Jun. 8, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, Jun. 9, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
TV/Stream: ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Top-Ranked UCLA Hosts Michigan In Los Angeles Super Regional
No. 1-ranked and No. 1 national seed UCLA (51-9) is set to continue postseason play this weekend, hosting Michigan (44-19) in the Los Angeles Super Regional. The winner of the best-of-three series advances to the College World Series in Omaha. The Bruins are in the Super Regional round for the first time since 2013. Michigan, which was the No. 3 seed in the Corvallis Regional, is in Supers for the first time since 2007. The series runs from Friday to Sunday (if necessary), with all three games starting at 6:00 p.m. PT and appearing on ESPN2. Roxy Bernstein and Wes Clements will have the call for ESPN. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season, with Tim Wilhelm on the call, and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday, June 7 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Ryan Garcia, RHP, Jr. (10-0, 1.36 ERA)
MICH - Karl Kauffmann, RHP, Jr. (9-6, 2.62 ERA)
Saturday, June 8 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Jack Ralston, RHP, RJr. (11-1, 2.55 ERA)
MICH - Jeff Criswell, RHP, So. (7-1, 2.82 ERA)
Sunday, June 9 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - TBA
MICH - Tommy Henry, LHP, Jr. (9-5, 3.61 ERA)
2019 In Brief
UCLA is 51-9 so far this season, and went 24-5 in conference play en route to the 2019 Pac-12 Championship. The Bruins won all 14 of their weekend series this year, took two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball classic, and posted an unbeaten 11-0 record in midweeks. At 51-9, UCLA leads the country in winning percentage (.850) and has the best record through 60 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 46-14 ('10, '12).
Bruins Tie Program Record For Wins
With the team's 4-1 showing in the regional round, UCLA hit the 51-win mark for the season. That ties the program record for wins (2010) and represents the second time ever that the Bruins have logged 50 wins in a season. UCLA is one of two schools with 50 wins this year and is the only squad with single-digit losses in the country.
Los Angeles Regional In Brief
UCLA advanced to the Super Regional round after winning the Los Angeles Regional. The field also included (2) Baylor, (3) Loyola Marymount, and (4) Omaha. The Bruins opened the weekend with a 5-2 win over Omaha, but had to fight through the elimination bracket after falling to LMU 3-2 on Saturday night. Needing three wins in a 36-hour period to advance, UCLA eliminated Baylor with an 11-6 victory on Sunday afternoon before defeating LMU in back-to-back games to win the regional final. Chase Strumpf was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player after hitting three-run homers in each of the regional final wins over the Lions. He was one of six Bruins named to the All-Tournament Team.
Win, Win, Win
UCLA's 2019 season was arguably the most successful in program history.
Weekend Warriors
UCLA has won all 14 of its weekend series this year, a first in program history. In addition, the 14-series winning streak is tied for the longest in the school annals, matching a streak from the 2014-15 seasons. UCLA was the only Division I team that didn't drop a weekend series in 2019. UCLA won all its home series for the second consecutive year and won all road series for the first time since 2010.
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the Los Angeles Regional, UCLA retained its place at the top of the polls. On Monday, the Bruins were tabbed No. 1 in the nation by both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA - the only two outlets to run polls this week - meaning UCLA has been at No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks. The Bruins had been ranked No. 1 for 11 consecutive weeks to close out the regular season by Baseball America, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game. 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 12 weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.
Feeling A Draft
UCLA's 2019 MLB Draftees
*Not on 2019 roster
UCLA Takes Over National Lead In ERA
For the fifth consecutive week, UCLA is leading the nation in team ERA. The Bruins enter the weekend with a 2.58 ERA after surrendering two earned runs or fewer in 11 of the last 15 games. UCLA has a massive lead nationally in ERA, as it is the only school nationwide with a mark under 3.00 (second-place Oregon St. finished the year at 3.02, third place Texas A&M is at 3.21). The Bruins also lead the country in WHIP (1.06) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.19).
Bruins Claim The 2019 Pac-12 Championship
UCLA claimed the 2019 Pac-12 Championship in entertaining fashion on Thursday, May 23 - the first day of the final weekend of the regular season. Needing a win at Oregon and losses from both Stanford and Oregon State, the Bruins took care of business by beating the Ducks 4-2 that night. Oregon St. went on to get blanked 2-0, and Stanford surrendered four runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose 6-5 and seal the league title for the Bruins. UCLA didn't reach first place in the league until May 12, and didn't take sole possession of first place until after the Washington series which ended on May 19. UCLA has previously won Pac-12 Championships under John Savage in 2011, 2012 (co-champions), and 2015.
On A Hot Streak
UCLA enters the weekend with just one loss over the last month, having won 14 of the last 15 games. The Bruins are 22-2 since Apr. 20 and 30-3 since Apr. 5.
Planting A Seed
This season represents the fourth time in program history that UCLA has earned a national seed, all in the John Savage era. The Bruins were previously the No. 1 seed in 2015, the No. 2 seed in 2012, and the No. 6 seed in 2010.
Postseason Notes
UCLA is making its 23rd all-time postseason appearance, and its 12th in the last 16 seasons. This is the 11th time that the Bruins have qualified for NCAAs in 15 seasons under John Savage. This year is the sixth time that UCLA has hosted a first-round regional and the third time it has hosted a super regional. The Bruins have a 69-46 all-time record in postseason games, including a 6-5 mark in super regional contests. UCLA has made five trips to Omaha all-time, winning the program's first national championship in 2013.
History Against Michigan
UCLA is 2-3 all-time against MIchigan, but 2-1 against the Wolverines in the John Savage era. UCLA shut out UM in the first two meetings of this millenium, blanking them 5-0 on Mar. 2, 2014 during the Notre Dame Classic and shutting out Michigan 1-0 on Mar. 3, 2017 as part of the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic. The two teams most recently met this year, with UM pulling out a 7-5 win at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Mar. 8, 2019 in the opening game of this season's DSCBC. The two teams have never met in the postseason, and have never met later than Apr. 4 in the regular season.
Bruins Dominate The All-Pac-12 Team
The Pac-12 released its All-Conference Team last week, and UCLA dominated the postseason honors. John Savage was named the Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, and Ryan Garcia became the third Bruin ever to be named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, joining Trevor Bauer and David Berg. UCLA had almost twice as many all-league picks as any other team (second-place Stanford had five), and the eight honorees set a new program record, besting the 1997 squad that had seven selections. Garcia, Ryan Kreidler, Garrett Mitchell, Holden Powell, Jack Ralston, Jack Stronach, Chase Strumpf, and Michael Toglia were tabbed All-League. Mitchell was also named to the All-Defensive Team. Nate Hadley earned an all-league honorable mention and Noah Cardenas was an all-defensive team honorable mention.
Los Angeles Regional Recap
Mitchell Tearing It Up
Garrett Mitchell has been tearing the cover off the ball over the last month or so. In 19 games since Apr. 28, he is slashing .448/.500/.805 with 24 runs scored, nine triples, three home runs, 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases in as many attempts. He enters the weekend with a team-best nine-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 18 of the last 19 games. He has six triples since May 17, giving him 11 three-baggers on the year. That figure leads the NCAA and represents a new UCLA program record, besting the previous standard of 10 set by Robbie Katzaroff in 1988. The Orange, Calif. native was the Pac-12 Player of the Week after torching Long Beach State and Washington State to the tune of a 11-19 (.579) line with four extra-base hits and six runs scored from May 7-12.
Mitchell Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
Earlier this season, Garrett Mitchell received an invitation to play for the USCNT, joining a group of elite UCLA players to have previously suited up for Team USA including Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, Brandon Crawford, and Troy Glaus. He is slated to become the first Bruin position player to don the red, white, and blue since Steve Rodriguez in 2010. The USCNT will play four intrasquad exhibitions in late June before facing off against Cuba, Chinese Taipei, and Japan in July.
Garcia, Ralston Earn Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Consideration
A pair of Bruin starters appeared on Player of the Year watch lists. Friday night starter Ryan Garcia was one of 25 players named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist, while both Garcia and Jack Ralston were named Dick Howser Award Semifinalists. UCLA has had a GSA Semifinalist in nine separate seasons, tied for the most in the country. Garcia and Ralston are among just eight starting pitchers in consideration for the Dick Howser Award.
Toglia In A Groove
UCLA junior first baseman Michael Toglia has been seeing the ball well lately, going 28-71 (.394) with eight home runs and 14 extra-base hits in his last 18 games. The current spree has raised his average 33 points to .319, as he jumped above the .300 mark for the first time year after a 3-5 day in the WSU series finale on May 12. Toglia has 16 home runs on the year, the most by a Bruin since Cody Decker had 21 in 2009. Paired with his 11-homer sophomore campaign, Toglia is the first Bruin since 2000 to log double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons (Chase Utley, Garrett Atkins, and Bill Scott all accomplished the feat in 1999-2000). In addition, he has 61 RBIs this year which is the most in a single season by a Bruin in the John Savage era (since 2005) and the most overall since Forrest Johnson's 78 in 2000. Paired with his 58-RBI sophomore campaign, he has the two most-productive seasons by a Bruin in the RBI department in the Savage era. Toglia was an All-Los Angeles Regional Team pick after going 6-16 (.375) with two home runs and five RBIs.
Bruins Set Shutout Record
The Bruins' 4-0 win over Washington on May 18 was the team's 11th shutout of the year, extending their national lead and setting a new single-season program record. UCLA had previously recorded 10 shutouts in both the 1969 and 2011 seasons. The Bruins have three shutouts in their last 13 games, and have recorded one in eight of their 14 weekend series and in three midweeks.
No. 1 UCLA (51-9) vs. No. 13 Michigan (44-19)
Friday, Jun. 7, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, Jun. 8, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, Jun. 9, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
TV/Stream: ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Top-Ranked UCLA Hosts Michigan In Los Angeles Super Regional
No. 1-ranked and No. 1 national seed UCLA (51-9) is set to continue postseason play this weekend, hosting Michigan (44-19) in the Los Angeles Super Regional. The winner of the best-of-three series advances to the College World Series in Omaha. The Bruins are in the Super Regional round for the first time since 2013. Michigan, which was the No. 3 seed in the Corvallis Regional, is in Supers for the first time since 2007. The series runs from Friday to Sunday (if necessary), with all three games starting at 6:00 p.m. PT and appearing on ESPN2. Roxy Bernstein and Wes Clements will have the call for ESPN. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season, with Tim Wilhelm on the call, and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday, June 7 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Ryan Garcia, RHP, Jr. (10-0, 1.36 ERA)
MICH - Karl Kauffmann, RHP, Jr. (9-6, 2.62 ERA)
Saturday, June 8 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Jack Ralston, RHP, RJr. (11-1, 2.55 ERA)
MICH - Jeff Criswell, RHP, So. (7-1, 2.82 ERA)
Sunday, June 9 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - TBA
MICH - Tommy Henry, LHP, Jr. (9-5, 3.61 ERA)
2019 In Brief
UCLA is 51-9 so far this season, and went 24-5 in conference play en route to the 2019 Pac-12 Championship. The Bruins won all 14 of their weekend series this year, took two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball classic, and posted an unbeaten 11-0 record in midweeks. At 51-9, UCLA leads the country in winning percentage (.850) and has the best record through 60 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 46-14 ('10, '12).
Bruins Tie Program Record For Wins
With the team's 4-1 showing in the regional round, UCLA hit the 51-win mark for the season. That ties the program record for wins (2010) and represents the second time ever that the Bruins have logged 50 wins in a season. UCLA is one of two schools with 50 wins this year and is the only squad with single-digit losses in the country.
Los Angeles Regional In Brief
UCLA advanced to the Super Regional round after winning the Los Angeles Regional. The field also included (2) Baylor, (3) Loyola Marymount, and (4) Omaha. The Bruins opened the weekend with a 5-2 win over Omaha, but had to fight through the elimination bracket after falling to LMU 3-2 on Saturday night. Needing three wins in a 36-hour period to advance, UCLA eliminated Baylor with an 11-6 victory on Sunday afternoon before defeating LMU in back-to-back games to win the regional final. Chase Strumpf was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player after hitting three-run homers in each of the regional final wins over the Lions. He was one of six Bruins named to the All-Tournament Team.
Win, Win, Win
UCLA's 2019 season was arguably the most successful in program history.
- Program record for regular season wins (47)
- Program record for conference wins (24) and Pac-12 winning percentage (.828)
- .855 regular season winning percentage is highest since 1924 (.889), when there were just 18 games on the schedule
- 2019 represents fourth time that a UCLA team has won 47+ games, postseason included (all four during Savage era)
- Pac-12 Champions, fourth league title under Savage and 12th all-time
- Ranked No. 1 for 12 straight weeks, longest stretch in program history
Weekend Warriors
UCLA has won all 14 of its weekend series this year, a first in program history. In addition, the 14-series winning streak is tied for the longest in the school annals, matching a streak from the 2014-15 seasons. UCLA was the only Division I team that didn't drop a weekend series in 2019. UCLA won all its home series for the second consecutive year and won all road series for the first time since 2010.
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the Los Angeles Regional, UCLA retained its place at the top of the polls. On Monday, the Bruins were tabbed No. 1 in the nation by both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA - the only two outlets to run polls this week - meaning UCLA has been at No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks. The Bruins had been ranked No. 1 for 11 consecutive weeks to close out the regular season by Baseball America, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game. 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 12 weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.
Feeling A Draft
- A total of 13 Bruins were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, which took place from Monday to Wednesday.
- The 13 selections, which included 11 members of the 2019 UCLA roster, represent a new program record and are tied for the most (Vanderbilt) of any school nationwide
- UCLA was the only school with three picks on day one of the draft (rounds 1-2)
- The Bruins were tied for the most picks in the top-10 rounds (six, Arkansas)
- Previous program record was 12 draftees (2000, 2006)
- Previous program record for the most picks under the current format of the draft (40 rounds, since 2012) was eight
- UCLA has had 105 draft selections under John Savage, including 39 picks inside the top-10 rounds
- The Bruins have had 287 all-time MLB draft selections
- Michael Toglia (COL) was UCLA's first position player to be drafted in the first round since Chase Utley in 2000
- Five UCLA commits were drafted, including OF Corbin Carroll (ARI, No. 16 overall) and RHP Evan Fitterer (MIA, fifth rd.)
UCLA's 2019 MLB Draftees
| Name (Pos.) | Round | Pick | Organization |
| Michael Toglia (1B) | 1 | 23 | Colorado Rockies |
| Ryan Garcia (RHP) | 2 | 50 | Texas Rangers |
| Chase Strumpf (2B) | 2 | 64 | Chicago Cubs |
| Ryan Kreidler (INF) | 4 | 112 | Detroit Tigers |
| Jack Ralston (RHP) | 7 | 215 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Jeremy Ydens (OF) | 8 | 243 | Washington Nationals |
| Justin Hooper (LHP) | 14 | 409 | Kansas City Royals |
| Jack Stronach (OF) | 21 | 623 | San Diego Padres |
| Jake Pries (OF) | 24 | 735 | New York Yankees |
| Nate Hadley (RHP) | 25 | 749 | Minnesota Twins |
| Kyle Molnar* (RHP) | 26 | 781 | Los Angeles Angels |
| Jake Hirabayashi (INF) | 39 | 1169 | Minnesota Twins |
| Ty Haselman* (C) | 40 | 1211 | Los Angeles Dodgers |
*Not on 2019 roster
UCLA Takes Over National Lead In ERA
For the fifth consecutive week, UCLA is leading the nation in team ERA. The Bruins enter the weekend with a 2.58 ERA after surrendering two earned runs or fewer in 11 of the last 15 games. UCLA has a massive lead nationally in ERA, as it is the only school nationwide with a mark under 3.00 (second-place Oregon St. finished the year at 3.02, third place Texas A&M is at 3.21). The Bruins also lead the country in WHIP (1.06) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.19).
Bruins Claim The 2019 Pac-12 Championship
UCLA claimed the 2019 Pac-12 Championship in entertaining fashion on Thursday, May 23 - the first day of the final weekend of the regular season. Needing a win at Oregon and losses from both Stanford and Oregon State, the Bruins took care of business by beating the Ducks 4-2 that night. Oregon St. went on to get blanked 2-0, and Stanford surrendered four runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose 6-5 and seal the league title for the Bruins. UCLA didn't reach first place in the league until May 12, and didn't take sole possession of first place until after the Washington series which ended on May 19. UCLA has previously won Pac-12 Championships under John Savage in 2011, 2012 (co-champions), and 2015.
On A Hot Streak
UCLA enters the weekend with just one loss over the last month, having won 14 of the last 15 games. The Bruins are 22-2 since Apr. 20 and 30-3 since Apr. 5.
Planting A Seed
This season represents the fourth time in program history that UCLA has earned a national seed, all in the John Savage era. The Bruins were previously the No. 1 seed in 2015, the No. 2 seed in 2012, and the No. 6 seed in 2010.
Postseason Notes
UCLA is making its 23rd all-time postseason appearance, and its 12th in the last 16 seasons. This is the 11th time that the Bruins have qualified for NCAAs in 15 seasons under John Savage. This year is the sixth time that UCLA has hosted a first-round regional and the third time it has hosted a super regional. The Bruins have a 69-46 all-time record in postseason games, including a 6-5 mark in super regional contests. UCLA has made five trips to Omaha all-time, winning the program's first national championship in 2013.
History Against Michigan
UCLA is 2-3 all-time against MIchigan, but 2-1 against the Wolverines in the John Savage era. UCLA shut out UM in the first two meetings of this millenium, blanking them 5-0 on Mar. 2, 2014 during the Notre Dame Classic and shutting out Michigan 1-0 on Mar. 3, 2017 as part of the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic. The two teams most recently met this year, with UM pulling out a 7-5 win at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Mar. 8, 2019 in the opening game of this season's DSCBC. The two teams have never met in the postseason, and have never met later than Apr. 4 in the regular season.
Bruins Dominate The All-Pac-12 Team
The Pac-12 released its All-Conference Team last week, and UCLA dominated the postseason honors. John Savage was named the Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, and Ryan Garcia became the third Bruin ever to be named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, joining Trevor Bauer and David Berg. UCLA had almost twice as many all-league picks as any other team (second-place Stanford had five), and the eight honorees set a new program record, besting the 1997 squad that had seven selections. Garcia, Ryan Kreidler, Garrett Mitchell, Holden Powell, Jack Ralston, Jack Stronach, Chase Strumpf, and Michael Toglia were tabbed All-League. Mitchell was also named to the All-Defensive Team. Nate Hadley earned an all-league honorable mention and Noah Cardenas was an all-defensive team honorable mention.
Los Angeles Regional Recap
- Game 1: (3) LMU def. (2) Baylor, 3-1 - LMU's Codie Paiva limited the potent Bears offense to one run over 7.2 standout innings to send Baylor to the loser's bracket. He was named to the All-Regional Team for the effort. Tied 1-1 after five, LMU broke through for a decisive two-run rally in the sixth, with Trevin Esquerra doubling in the go-ahead run then scoring on a Tommy Delgado single.
- Game 2: (1) UCLA def. (4) Omaha, 5-2 - Ryan Garcia pitched into the ninth, allowing just one earned, while UCLA posted back-to-back crooked numbers in the fifth and sixth innings to win the team's regional opener. Garrett Mitchell drove in the game-winning run with a two-run single in the fifth, and Jake Pries and Jack Stronach each doubled as part of a two-run sixth.
- Game 3: (2) Baylor def. (4) Omaha, 24-6 - Baylor's offense exploded on Saturday, eliminating Omaha with a 24-6 win. Catcher Shea Langeliers had a historic day, hitting three home runs and logging an NCAA postseason-record 11 RBIs to lead the BU assault.
- Game 4: (3) LMU def. (1) UCLA, 3-2 - Jack Ralston struck out 10 batters but LMU was able to score three runs and hold on for a one-run win to send UCLA to the loser's bracket. Only one run was scored by either team over the last six innings of the game, as Cooper Uhl's sixth-inning single broke a 2-2 deadlock. Nick Frasso finished off the game with a six-out save.
- Game 5: (1) UCLA def. (2) Baylor, 11-6 - UCLA hit four home runs to out-slug Baylor and eliminate them from the tournament. The Bruins trailed 4-2 in the middle of the fourth, but posted eight runs over the next three innings to take the lead for good. Ryan Kreidler, Jake Pries, Michael Toglia, and Noah Cardenas all homered for UCLA. The bullpen was asked to pitch eight innings, and surrendered just three runs.
- Game 6: (1) UCLA def. (3) LMU, 6-1 - UCLA forced a decisive game seven in the weekend after beating LMU 6-1 on Sunday night in the second game of the day for the team. Chase Strumpf hit a three-run homer that made it 4-0 in the third, and that served as the game-winning run. Nick Nastrini delivered five innings of one-run ball in his first appearance since Feb. 26 to give the bullpen a much-needed break and earn his first collegiate win.
- Game 7: (1) UCLA def. (3) LMU, 6-3 - Chase Strumpf hit another decisive three-run home run to deliver a 6-3, regional-clinching win over LMU on Monday night. Six Bruin pitchers combined to hold LMU to one earned run over the course of the game. Michael Townsend earned the win with 2.2 innings of one-hit relief. Strumpf's game-deciding blow in the fourth inning came about 90 seconds after he was drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs.
Mitchell Tearing It Up
Garrett Mitchell has been tearing the cover off the ball over the last month or so. In 19 games since Apr. 28, he is slashing .448/.500/.805 with 24 runs scored, nine triples, three home runs, 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases in as many attempts. He enters the weekend with a team-best nine-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 18 of the last 19 games. He has six triples since May 17, giving him 11 three-baggers on the year. That figure leads the NCAA and represents a new UCLA program record, besting the previous standard of 10 set by Robbie Katzaroff in 1988. The Orange, Calif. native was the Pac-12 Player of the Week after torching Long Beach State and Washington State to the tune of a 11-19 (.579) line with four extra-base hits and six runs scored from May 7-12.
Mitchell Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
Earlier this season, Garrett Mitchell received an invitation to play for the USCNT, joining a group of elite UCLA players to have previously suited up for Team USA including Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, Brandon Crawford, and Troy Glaus. He is slated to become the first Bruin position player to don the red, white, and blue since Steve Rodriguez in 2010. The USCNT will play four intrasquad exhibitions in late June before facing off against Cuba, Chinese Taipei, and Japan in July.
Garcia, Ralston Earn Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Consideration
A pair of Bruin starters appeared on Player of the Year watch lists. Friday night starter Ryan Garcia was one of 25 players named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist, while both Garcia and Jack Ralston were named Dick Howser Award Semifinalists. UCLA has had a GSA Semifinalist in nine separate seasons, tied for the most in the country. Garcia and Ralston are among just eight starting pitchers in consideration for the Dick Howser Award.
Toglia In A Groove
UCLA junior first baseman Michael Toglia has been seeing the ball well lately, going 28-71 (.394) with eight home runs and 14 extra-base hits in his last 18 games. The current spree has raised his average 33 points to .319, as he jumped above the .300 mark for the first time year after a 3-5 day in the WSU series finale on May 12. Toglia has 16 home runs on the year, the most by a Bruin since Cody Decker had 21 in 2009. Paired with his 11-homer sophomore campaign, Toglia is the first Bruin since 2000 to log double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons (Chase Utley, Garrett Atkins, and Bill Scott all accomplished the feat in 1999-2000). In addition, he has 61 RBIs this year which is the most in a single season by a Bruin in the John Savage era (since 2005) and the most overall since Forrest Johnson's 78 in 2000. Paired with his 58-RBI sophomore campaign, he has the two most-productive seasons by a Bruin in the RBI department in the Savage era. Toglia was an All-Los Angeles Regional Team pick after going 6-16 (.375) with two home runs and five RBIs.
Bruins Set Shutout Record
The Bruins' 4-0 win over Washington on May 18 was the team's 11th shutout of the year, extending their national lead and setting a new single-season program record. UCLA had previously recorded 10 shutouts in both the 1969 and 2011 seasons. The Bruins have three shutouts in their last 13 games, and have recorded one in eight of their 14 weekend series and in three midweeks.