Friday, February 22
Atlanta, GA
1:00 PM
UCLA
at
UCLA at Georgia Tech
Kyle Mora has been an integral part of a dominant UCLA bullpen (photo: Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
No. 3 Bruins Set for Three-Game Series at No. 19 Georgia Tech
February 21, 2019 | Baseball
No. 3 UCLA Heads East For Critical Three-Game Set at Georgia Tech
No. 3-ranked UCLA (4-0) flies to Atlanta, Ga. this weekend for a three-game set at Georgia Tech. The series represents the first road games of the year for the Bruins. Game times are set for 1 p.m. PT on Friday, 11 a.m. PT on Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. PT on Sunday. There will be live audio broadcasts of each game available on UCLABruins.com. Fans can also follow along with live Twitter updates at @UCLABaseball.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday, Feb. 22 - 1 p.m. PT
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - RHP Xzavion Curry, Jr. (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 23 - 11 a.m. PT
UCLA - Jack Ralston, RHP, RJr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - Connor Thompson, LHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 24 - 10 a.m. PT
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Fr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - Brant Hurter, LHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Bruins On A Roll
UCLA enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak to start the season, the fifth time in the John Savage era that the Bruins have gone 4-0 out of the gate (all since 2010). The previous four UCLA teams to do so won an average of 42 games.ย
No Runs For You
Not only are the Bruins unbeaten to this point of the season, they have yet to allow an earned run so far to any opponent. NCAA-wide, only Tennessee is able to boast the same. This is the first time UCLA has registed a 0.00 ERA through four games since the Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer-led Bruins did so in 2011.ย
UCLA Shuts Out LMU To Win Fourth Straight
The Bruins wrapped up a perfect four-game homestand with a 5-0 shutout of visiting Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night. Jake Pries had the biggest offensive at-bat of the night, lofting a triple off the left field wall to bring in three runs and make it 4-0 in the third inning. Matt McLain (RBI walk) and Ryan Kreidler (sac fly) drove in the other runs. Nick Nastrini drew the start and tossed 4 2/3 scoreless, striking out nine. Six Bruin relievers teamed up to shut out the Lions rest of the way. Nate Hadley had the longest assignment of all the bullpen guys, striking out a pair over 1 1/3 innings to earn the win.ย
GRAB SOME PINE
Despite missing frontline starter Ryan Garcia, UCLA has recorded some of the best strikeout numbers in the country so far this season. The Bruins are averaging 14.5 strikeouts per game, a figure that trails only Duke (15.8) and San Diego State (14.8) nationally. UCLA has recorded at least 13 team strikeouts in every game, including a season-best 17 against Loyola Marymount on Tuesday which stands as the most single-game strikeouts recorded by the Bruins since Mar. 19, 2016 against Washington State (also 17).ย
UCLA Pitchers Thriving In The Early Going
After the first week of regular season action, the UCLA pitching staff finds itself at or near the top of nearly every pitching statistic in the Pac-12. UCLA leads the league in ERA (0.00), strikeouts (58), batting average against (.110), runs allowed (3), earned runs allowed (0), walks allowed (5), hits allowed (13), and extra-base hits allowed (3). Nationally, the Bruins rank top-five in the country in rate stats such as ERA (T-1st), WHIP (0.58, 1st), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.25, 1st), hits per nine (3.25, 2nd), and strikeouts per nine (14.5, third).ย
Big Innings
UCLA has put up a crooked number in at least one inning of every game so far this season. In each of the past three games, the Bruins have logged a single inning with four runs or more.ย
Don't Mess With The Bull(pen)
As good as UCLA's starting pitchers have been, the bullpen has been downright unhittable. Over 14 2/3 combined innings of work, Bruin relievers allowed just three hits while striking out 24 (a 14.7 K/9 ratio). Junior righty Kyla Mora (4 IP, 0 H, 8 K), and sophomore righty Holden Powell (3 IP, 1 SV, 1 H) have been especially impressive so far, though Nate Hadley (2.2 IP, 4 K), Jack Filby (1.1 IP, 2 K), and Michael Townsend (1.2 IP, 4 K) have all thrived when called upon.ย
Savage Eyes A Pair Of Milestones
Heading into the weekend, UCLA head coach John Savage is in striking distance of a pair of career milestones. As of the series opener, he needs nine wins for 500 at UCLA and 21 wins for 600 overall in his career.ย
Last Weekend In Review
UCLA couldn't have hoped for a much better start to the 2019 season, sweeping Big East-member St. John's in a three-game home series. The Bruins outscored the Red Storm 23-3, and all three of the visitors' runs for the series were unearned.ย
ย ย -UCLA started the series with a 3-2 win on Opening Day, overcoming a 2-0 deficit.The Bruins scored the game-winning run as part of a go-ahead seventh inning two-run rally, with Chase Strumpf and Matt McLain drawing bases loaded walks. The Bruins had previously loaded the bases on a drag bunt single from Ryan Kreidler, a Jeremy Ydens walk, and a catcher's interference call. Freshman Jack Filby picked up the win after tossing a scoreless top of the seventh.
ย ย -The Bruins won the series with a 9-0 decision on Saturday. UCLA allowed just three hits in the shutout. Jack Ralston went a career-high six innings to earn the win, while the UCLA bullpen didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way. McLain, Jake Pries, and Kreidler had RBI extra-base hits in a decisive four-run second inning.ย
ย ย -UCLA completed the sweep with an 11-1 Sunday win. SJU opened the scoring in the third, but the Bruins scored 11 unanswered to claim the game comfortably. UCLA broke the game open with a seven-run seventh. The Bruins allowed just two hits for the game, the team's first two-hitter since Feb. 19, 2017 (vs. San Jose State).ย
ย ย -UCLA scored at least 20 runs in its opening weekend for the ninth time in 15 seasons under John Savage.ย
ย ย -Last weekend was the first time UCLA allowed just nine hits over a three-game span since Feb. 18-21, 2017 (vs. San Jose State and UC Riverside)
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech enters the series with a 2-1 weekend, defeating Illinois-Chicago and West Virginia while falling to Richmond at home last weekend. The Yellow Jackets had a Tuesday contest at Georgia Southern canceled due to rain. GT is ranked as high as No. 19 heading into the week (Collegiate Baseball), and was ranked as high as No. 17 in the preseason. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 31-27 season that saw them finish fourth in the ACC Coastal Division. They return seven of nine starting position players and their entire rotation.
Against The ACC
UCLA has a 23-27 all-time record against ACC clubs. However, the Bruins only have losing records against two of the 14 teams in the ACC (Florida State, Miami).ย
Rankings Roundup
UCLA has either stood pat or moved up in every national poll this week. The Bruins are still ranked as high as No. 3, a spot where three outlets (Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) have them. UCLA also moved up one spot in the D1Baseball.com poll, to No. 4.ย
Bruins Picked to Win Pac-12 in Preseason Coaches Poll
In a vote of all 11 Pac-12 coaches, the Bruins were picked as the favorites to win the league in 2019. UCLA received eight of 11 first place votes and a league-high 97 points. 2015 was the last time that UCLA was picked to finish first in the Preseason Coaches Poll, which was also the last time that UCLA won the league. Stanford (two first place votes, 90 points) and Oregon St. (one first place vote, 85 points) also received first place votes. They were followed in succession by Arizona (67), Washington (60), Arizona State (59), Oregon (49), California (37), USC (32), Washington State (15), and Utah (14).ย
Strumpf Named a Unanimous First Team Preseason All-American
UCLA junior Chase Strumpf was the First Team second baseman on every Preseason All-America team released this offseason, as he was honored by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game. He was one of just four players nationwide to gain consensus First Team status, joining catcher Adley Rutschman (Oregon State), first baseman Andrew Vaughn (Cal), and third baseman Josh Jung (Texas Tech). Strumpf slashed .363/.475/.633 last year with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs en route to All-America and Dick Howser Award semifinalist honors.ย
Toglia, Ydens Also Pick Up All-American Acclaim
Strumpf wasn't the only Bruin to get preseason publicity, as both Michael Toglia and Jeremy Ydens were named Preseason All-Americans. Toglia was a Second Teamer in D1Baseball and a Third Team choice in Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, while Ydens was a Second Team outfielder per Collegiate Baseball. Toglia (.336 average, 11 home runs) and Ydens (.350 average, 28 extra-base hits) were key middle-of-the-order bats for the Bruins last year.
Fabulous Freshmen
UCLA's newest class of newcomers was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (D1Baseball). The Bruins' new class was the highest-ranked in the Pac-12 and in the western half of the country. UCLA has turned in a top-25 recruiting class for five consecutive seasons, while the Bruins' No. 4 ranking is the highest for the program since 2015. A trio of frosh players were selected to D1Baseball's Top-100 Impact Freshmen List, including list-topper Matt McLain, catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 81), and right-handed pitcher Sean Mullen (No. 89).ย
McLain Chooses UCLA
The Bruins' freshman class is highlighted by Tustin, Calif. native Matt McLain, who opted to attend UCLA after being drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. McLain is the second first-round draft pick out of high school to attend UCLA, following in the foosteps of Gerrit Cole (2008). Other high draft choices to turn down MLB overtures include Troy Glaus (37th overall, 1994) and Chase Utley (76th overall, 1997).ย
UCLA In The Positional Power Rankings
UCLA was well-represented in the D1Baseball.com positional power rankings, published just before the start of the season.ย
Chase Strumpf was the Bruins' top player, taking the No. 1 spot at second base. The Bruins' other starting infielder all made it was well: Michael Toglia was the No. 3 first baseman, Kevin Kendall was the No. 21 shortstop, and Ryan Kreidler was No. 29 at third base. All three of the Bruins' starting outfielders made the power rankings too: Jeremy Ydens (No. 15), Matt McLain (No. 37), and Garrett Mitchell (No. 62). A pair of Bruin starting pitchers were recognized (Ryan Garcia, No. 20 and Zach Pettway, No. 100) while Holden Powell (No. 35) made the relievers list.ย
Dynamic Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List
UCLA's Chase Strumpf and Michael Toglia were both named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List prior to the new season. In 2018, Strumpf and Toglia were the most prolific Bruin teammates of the last 20 years. The right-side of the UCLA infield became the first Bruin duo since 2007 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season when Cody Decker (14) and Gabe Cohen (10) accomplished the feat. Strumpf and Toglia are just the fourth and fifth Bruins since 2001 with 50-plus RBIs and 10-plus home runs in the same season. The pair also became the first UCLA teammates since 2008 to each drive in over 50 runs in the same season (Casey Haerther, 52 and Brandon Crawford, 51).
No. 3-ranked UCLA (4-0) flies to Atlanta, Ga. this weekend for a three-game set at Georgia Tech. The series represents the first road games of the year for the Bruins. Game times are set for 1 p.m. PT on Friday, 11 a.m. PT on Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. PT on Sunday. There will be live audio broadcasts of each game available on UCLABruins.com. Fans can also follow along with live Twitter updates at @UCLABaseball.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday, Feb. 22 - 1 p.m. PT
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - RHP Xzavion Curry, Jr. (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 23 - 11 a.m. PT
UCLA - Jack Ralston, RHP, RJr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - Connor Thompson, LHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 24 - 10 a.m. PT
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Fr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
GT - Brant Hurter, LHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Bruins On A Roll
UCLA enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak to start the season, the fifth time in the John Savage era that the Bruins have gone 4-0 out of the gate (all since 2010). The previous four UCLA teams to do so won an average of 42 games.ย
No Runs For You
Not only are the Bruins unbeaten to this point of the season, they have yet to allow an earned run so far to any opponent. NCAA-wide, only Tennessee is able to boast the same. This is the first time UCLA has registed a 0.00 ERA through four games since the Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer-led Bruins did so in 2011.ย
UCLA Shuts Out LMU To Win Fourth Straight
The Bruins wrapped up a perfect four-game homestand with a 5-0 shutout of visiting Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night. Jake Pries had the biggest offensive at-bat of the night, lofting a triple off the left field wall to bring in three runs and make it 4-0 in the third inning. Matt McLain (RBI walk) and Ryan Kreidler (sac fly) drove in the other runs. Nick Nastrini drew the start and tossed 4 2/3 scoreless, striking out nine. Six Bruin relievers teamed up to shut out the Lions rest of the way. Nate Hadley had the longest assignment of all the bullpen guys, striking out a pair over 1 1/3 innings to earn the win.ย
GRAB SOME PINE
Despite missing frontline starter Ryan Garcia, UCLA has recorded some of the best strikeout numbers in the country so far this season. The Bruins are averaging 14.5 strikeouts per game, a figure that trails only Duke (15.8) and San Diego State (14.8) nationally. UCLA has recorded at least 13 team strikeouts in every game, including a season-best 17 against Loyola Marymount on Tuesday which stands as the most single-game strikeouts recorded by the Bruins since Mar. 19, 2016 against Washington State (also 17).ย
UCLA Pitchers Thriving In The Early Going
After the first week of regular season action, the UCLA pitching staff finds itself at or near the top of nearly every pitching statistic in the Pac-12. UCLA leads the league in ERA (0.00), strikeouts (58), batting average against (.110), runs allowed (3), earned runs allowed (0), walks allowed (5), hits allowed (13), and extra-base hits allowed (3). Nationally, the Bruins rank top-five in the country in rate stats such as ERA (T-1st), WHIP (0.58, 1st), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.25, 1st), hits per nine (3.25, 2nd), and strikeouts per nine (14.5, third).ย
Big Innings
UCLA has put up a crooked number in at least one inning of every game so far this season. In each of the past three games, the Bruins have logged a single inning with four runs or more.ย
Don't Mess With The Bull(pen)
As good as UCLA's starting pitchers have been, the bullpen has been downright unhittable. Over 14 2/3 combined innings of work, Bruin relievers allowed just three hits while striking out 24 (a 14.7 K/9 ratio). Junior righty Kyla Mora (4 IP, 0 H, 8 K), and sophomore righty Holden Powell (3 IP, 1 SV, 1 H) have been especially impressive so far, though Nate Hadley (2.2 IP, 4 K), Jack Filby (1.1 IP, 2 K), and Michael Townsend (1.2 IP, 4 K) have all thrived when called upon.ย
Savage Eyes A Pair Of Milestones
Heading into the weekend, UCLA head coach John Savage is in striking distance of a pair of career milestones. As of the series opener, he needs nine wins for 500 at UCLA and 21 wins for 600 overall in his career.ย
Last Weekend In Review
UCLA couldn't have hoped for a much better start to the 2019 season, sweeping Big East-member St. John's in a three-game home series. The Bruins outscored the Red Storm 23-3, and all three of the visitors' runs for the series were unearned.ย
ย ย -UCLA started the series with a 3-2 win on Opening Day, overcoming a 2-0 deficit.The Bruins scored the game-winning run as part of a go-ahead seventh inning two-run rally, with Chase Strumpf and Matt McLain drawing bases loaded walks. The Bruins had previously loaded the bases on a drag bunt single from Ryan Kreidler, a Jeremy Ydens walk, and a catcher's interference call. Freshman Jack Filby picked up the win after tossing a scoreless top of the seventh.
ย ย -The Bruins won the series with a 9-0 decision on Saturday. UCLA allowed just three hits in the shutout. Jack Ralston went a career-high six innings to earn the win, while the UCLA bullpen didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way. McLain, Jake Pries, and Kreidler had RBI extra-base hits in a decisive four-run second inning.ย
ย ย -UCLA completed the sweep with an 11-1 Sunday win. SJU opened the scoring in the third, but the Bruins scored 11 unanswered to claim the game comfortably. UCLA broke the game open with a seven-run seventh. The Bruins allowed just two hits for the game, the team's first two-hitter since Feb. 19, 2017 (vs. San Jose State).ย
ย ย -UCLA scored at least 20 runs in its opening weekend for the ninth time in 15 seasons under John Savage.ย
ย ย -Last weekend was the first time UCLA allowed just nine hits over a three-game span since Feb. 18-21, 2017 (vs. San Jose State and UC Riverside)
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech enters the series with a 2-1 weekend, defeating Illinois-Chicago and West Virginia while falling to Richmond at home last weekend. The Yellow Jackets had a Tuesday contest at Georgia Southern canceled due to rain. GT is ranked as high as No. 19 heading into the week (Collegiate Baseball), and was ranked as high as No. 17 in the preseason. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 31-27 season that saw them finish fourth in the ACC Coastal Division. They return seven of nine starting position players and their entire rotation.
Against The ACC
UCLA has a 23-27 all-time record against ACC clubs. However, the Bruins only have losing records against two of the 14 teams in the ACC (Florida State, Miami).ย
Rankings Roundup
UCLA has either stood pat or moved up in every national poll this week. The Bruins are still ranked as high as No. 3, a spot where three outlets (Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) have them. UCLA also moved up one spot in the D1Baseball.com poll, to No. 4.ย
Bruins Picked to Win Pac-12 in Preseason Coaches Poll
In a vote of all 11 Pac-12 coaches, the Bruins were picked as the favorites to win the league in 2019. UCLA received eight of 11 first place votes and a league-high 97 points. 2015 was the last time that UCLA was picked to finish first in the Preseason Coaches Poll, which was also the last time that UCLA won the league. Stanford (two first place votes, 90 points) and Oregon St. (one first place vote, 85 points) also received first place votes. They were followed in succession by Arizona (67), Washington (60), Arizona State (59), Oregon (49), California (37), USC (32), Washington State (15), and Utah (14).ย
Strumpf Named a Unanimous First Team Preseason All-American
UCLA junior Chase Strumpf was the First Team second baseman on every Preseason All-America team released this offseason, as he was honored by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game. He was one of just four players nationwide to gain consensus First Team status, joining catcher Adley Rutschman (Oregon State), first baseman Andrew Vaughn (Cal), and third baseman Josh Jung (Texas Tech). Strumpf slashed .363/.475/.633 last year with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs en route to All-America and Dick Howser Award semifinalist honors.ย
Toglia, Ydens Also Pick Up All-American Acclaim
Strumpf wasn't the only Bruin to get preseason publicity, as both Michael Toglia and Jeremy Ydens were named Preseason All-Americans. Toglia was a Second Teamer in D1Baseball and a Third Team choice in Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, while Ydens was a Second Team outfielder per Collegiate Baseball. Toglia (.336 average, 11 home runs) and Ydens (.350 average, 28 extra-base hits) were key middle-of-the-order bats for the Bruins last year.
Fabulous Freshmen
UCLA's newest class of newcomers was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (D1Baseball). The Bruins' new class was the highest-ranked in the Pac-12 and in the western half of the country. UCLA has turned in a top-25 recruiting class for five consecutive seasons, while the Bruins' No. 4 ranking is the highest for the program since 2015. A trio of frosh players were selected to D1Baseball's Top-100 Impact Freshmen List, including list-topper Matt McLain, catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 81), and right-handed pitcher Sean Mullen (No. 89).ย
McLain Chooses UCLA
The Bruins' freshman class is highlighted by Tustin, Calif. native Matt McLain, who opted to attend UCLA after being drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. McLain is the second first-round draft pick out of high school to attend UCLA, following in the foosteps of Gerrit Cole (2008). Other high draft choices to turn down MLB overtures include Troy Glaus (37th overall, 1994) and Chase Utley (76th overall, 1997).ย
UCLA In The Positional Power Rankings
UCLA was well-represented in the D1Baseball.com positional power rankings, published just before the start of the season.ย
Chase Strumpf was the Bruins' top player, taking the No. 1 spot at second base. The Bruins' other starting infielder all made it was well: Michael Toglia was the No. 3 first baseman, Kevin Kendall was the No. 21 shortstop, and Ryan Kreidler was No. 29 at third base. All three of the Bruins' starting outfielders made the power rankings too: Jeremy Ydens (No. 15), Matt McLain (No. 37), and Garrett Mitchell (No. 62). A pair of Bruin starting pitchers were recognized (Ryan Garcia, No. 20 and Zach Pettway, No. 100) while Holden Powell (No. 35) made the relievers list.ย
Dynamic Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List
UCLA's Chase Strumpf and Michael Toglia were both named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List prior to the new season. In 2018, Strumpf and Toglia were the most prolific Bruin teammates of the last 20 years. The right-side of the UCLA infield became the first Bruin duo since 2007 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season when Cody Decker (14) and Gabe Cohen (10) accomplished the feat. Strumpf and Toglia are just the fourth and fifth Bruins since 2001 with 50-plus RBIs and 10-plus home runs in the same season. The pair also became the first UCLA teammates since 2008 to each drive in over 50 runs in the same season (Casey Haerther, 52 and Brandon Crawford, 51).
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