Tuesday, April 30
Malibu, CA
3:00 PM
UCLA
at
UCLA at Pepperdine
Matt McLain (photo: Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
Baseball Concludes April Slate With Midweek at Pepperdine
April 29, 2019 | Baseball
No. 1 UCLA (34-7) at Pepperdine (19-17)
Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2019 - 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Malibu, Calif. (Eddy D. Field Stadium)
Stream: WCC.tv
Audio:ย UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
UCLA Heads To The Coast For Midweek At Pepperdineย ย ย
No. 1 UCLA (34-7), winners of five straight and 13 of the last 14 games, wraps up its April slate on Tuesday afternoon by traveling to WCC-member Pepperdine for a 3:00 p.m. matchup. The Bruins edged the Waves 3-2 on Apr. 15 of this season at Jackie Robinson Stadium in a make-up of a game originally scheduled for Mar. 5. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, Apr. 30 - 3:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - RHP Sean Mullen, RHP, Fr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
PEPP - Raul Salazar, RHP, RFr. (1-3, 3.71 ERA)
The Story So Far ย
UCLA is 34-7 to start the 2019 campaign and 14-4 in Pac-12 play, winning all 10 of its weekend series, taking two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic, and posting an unbeaten 8-0 record in midweeks. At 34-7, UCLA ย has the best record through 41 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 31-10 (1979, 2010, 2015).ย
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the series over Utah, 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 seventh consecutive week. In addition, the Bruins topped the list of Collegiate Baseball for the fourth 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 seven weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.ย
The Week In Review
UCLA went 4-0 last week, defeating Cal State Fullerton 8-3 on the road on Tuesday night before sweeping Utah at home in Pac-12 action over the weekend.
UCLA has won all 10 ย 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.ย
UCLA Takes Over Nationalย Lead In ERA
After allowing just eight runs over four games last week, UCLA took over the national lead in team ERA at 2.64. The Bruins also rank among the nation's best in hits allowed per nine innings (6.3, second) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.11, ninth). UCLA has allowed one earned run or fewer in 17 of its 41 games this season. Were the season to end today, UCLA's ERA would be the fifth-best in program history.ย
Garcia Named Pac-12 Pitcher of The Week
After his masterpiece against the Utes, Ryan Garcia was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week. He becomes the fifth Bruin ever to win three Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards in one season and the first since Trevor Bauer in 2011. No other league pitcher has won Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week more than once in 2019. All three of Garcia's honors have come since Mar. 25.ย
Midweek Notes
UCLA is an undefeated 8-0 in midweeks this season, going 4-0 both at home and on the road. Garrett Mitchell (.441/.487/.647), Noah Cardenas (.421/.520/.474), and Michael Toglia (.333/.3444/.500) have all feasted on midweek pitching this year. As a team, the Bruins are outhitting their opponents .290 to .197 in midweeks while holding a 1.88 to 5.03 ERA advantage. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles).
Holden' It Down At The End Of The Game
Sophomore closer Holden Powell is in the midst of a hot streak, which led to his inclusion on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List Midseason Update. Powell has gone 15 straight appearances, spanning 16.0 innings, without giving up an earned run. In that span, he's struck out 21 and allowed just three hits. He tossed three scoreless frames against Utah last weekend, including a six-out save in Sunday's series finale. Powell leads the Pac-12 and is fourth nationally with 12 saves. He is the first Bruin with double-digit saves since David Berg had 13 in 2015. He last allowed an earned run on Mar. 17.ย
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 (fourth). The Bruins are the only team in the country to rank top-10 in both fielding percentage and ERA.ย
Savage Records Pair of Milestone Wins in 2019ย ย ย
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.ย
Cardenas Backs Up His Play As The Backstop
Noah Cardenas has been one of UCLA's hottest hitters in the last few weeks, leading to more playing time behind the dish. Since Apr. 7, he's gone 17-33 (.515) to raise his season batting average 129 points. He has a trio of three-hit performances in that span. Cardenas had a nine-game hit streak snapped with an 0-2 line on Saturday, his first 0-fer since Apr. 6. He has started 12 of the last 14 games behind the dish after starting the season in a time-share. ย
Last Time Out Against Pepperdine
UCLA edged Pepperdine 3-2 in a home contest on Apr. 15, using a three-run bottom of the seventh to erase a two-run deficit and pull out a 3-2 triumph. In that seventh inning rally, the Bruins loaded the bases on an error, single, and eight-pitch walk to Garrett Mitchell. Ryan Kreidler broke the shutout with an RBI groundout, and then Chase Strumpf came through with a two-run single to plate the eventual game-winning run. Kyle Mora and Holden Powell took over from there, recording scoreless innings to seal the 3-2 win. Jesse Bergin allowed two earned in a six-inning start.ย
Toglia Teeing Off
After a bit of a slow start to the season - he was batting .207 through the team's first 15 games - first baseman Michael Toglia is starting to heat up with the bat, collecting hits in 18 of his last 21 games. Earlier this month he had a monster week against UCI and ECU, going 7-15 with eight RBIs and four extra-base hits, including a walk-off home run in the opener of a Saturday doubleheader with the Pirates. Against Utah, he hit a home run on Saturday and Sunday to bring his team-leading home run total to eight. He also leads the club in RBIs (40) and extra-base hits (22).ย
Grab Some Pine
The UCLA pitching staff has proven adept at punching out batters this year, leading the Pac-12 and ranking fifth in the nation with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. UCLA has punched out at least 10 batters in 23 of its 38 games, including five straight Pac-12 contests. UCLA has four of the top-10 strikeout pitchers in the Pac-12, including Ryan Garcia (69, third), Jesse Bergin (65, sixth), Zach Pettway (60, eighth), and Jack Ralston (59, ninth).ย
Offense Heats Up
Over the last month, UCLA is averaging 6.5 runs per game and has four regulars hitting .300 or better: Noah Cardenas (.422), Michael Toglia (.360), Jack Stronach (.342), and Jake Pries (.308). As a team, the Bruins rank in the top-half of the Pac-12 in all three slash categories: batting average (.284, fourth), OBP (.378, fifth), and slugging (.438, fifth).ย
Stronach Making The Most Of His Opportunity
Junior Jack Stronach has been one of UCLA's unsung heroes this year, serving as one of the team's leading bats since assuming a full-time role on Mar. 1. From Mar. 1 to Apr. 7 (21 games), he posted a .444/.516/.619 slash line, leading the team by wide margins in all categories while collecting seven extra-base hits and 17 RBIs. He has especially punished Pac-12 opponents, collecting at least four hits and batting .400 or better in all six of the Bruins' conference series. He was 5-10 (.500) against Oregon State, 6-11 (.545) against Arizona, 5-11 (.455) against USC, 6-12 (.500) against Stanford), 5-11 (.455) against Cal, and 4-10 against Utah (.400). His .470 batting average in league play leads all Pac-12 hitters.
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).ย
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 32-game reached base streak, and he has only been kept off base in just two games total so far this year. He has a hit in 33 of 41 games this year, the most of any Bruin.ย
Putting Down Roots
UCLA didn't leave Los Angeles County for the entire month of March, as the team's only road games were at LBSU, LMU, and USC. After traveling to Stanford Apr. 5-7, the Bruins stay in Southern California for the rest of April, traveling for just two road contests (at Cal State Fullerton and at Pepperdine). ย
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).ย
Six Is The Magic Number
If the Bruins can get to six runs, they're in pretty good shape. So far this season, UCLA has posted an unbeaten 25-0 record when reaching the six-run plateau. UCLA opponents are just 4-3 when scoring six runs or more.ย
Seeing Triple
The Bruins have legged out 18 triples this season, a figure which ranks ninth nationally and second in the Pac-12. Five separate Bruins have multiple three-baggers, led by Matt McLain's six (fourth nationally, tied for the most by a Bruin since 1988). Garrett Mitchell, 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 142 innings, Bruin relievers have combined to record a 2.21 ERA with strong peripherals including 11.5 K/9 and 5.2 hits per nine innings ratios. The Bruin bullpen has gone unscored upon 21 times in 41 games this year. Standouts include Kyle Mora (NCAA-high 32 appearances this year), Holden Powell (league-leading 12 saves), Nate Hadley (6-1, 3.70 hits per nine innings), and Jack Filby (2-0, 1.65 ERA).ย
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 52-12 in the seventh inning for the season, a plus-40 run differential. UCLA's next-best single-inning differential is the second (31-12, plus-19). The Bruins are outscoring their opponents 253-125 overall for the year.ย
WHIP It Good
At 1.07, UCLA enters the weekend with thelowest WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in the country. The Bruins have posted a sub-1.00 WHIP 19 times in 41 games, including in 10 of the first 11 games of the year. Ryan Garcia (0.86) and Nate Hadley (0.95) have the lowest WHIPs on the team among active pitchers.ย
Comeback Kids
UCLA has proven undaunted when facing a deficit this season, as 17 of the team's 34 wins this season have been of the come-from-behind variety (50%).ย
Off To A Good Start
UCLA is an unbeaten 11-0 this season when scoring in the first inning. Similarly, the Bruins are 21-3 (.875 winning percentage) when scoring first, compared to a 13-4 (.765) mark when the opposition gets on the board first.ย
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 10 weekend series and in two midweek games.ย
Nailing It Down
The Bruins have been rock-steady at the back end of games this year, posting a 28-0 record this year when holding the lead after seven innings. Taking it further, the Bruins are 31-0 when leading after eight.ย
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.ย
Double-Digit Hits
As a team, UCLA has recorded double-digit hits 20 times this season. Their hit output has increased recently, as the Bruins have recorded 10 or more hits in four of their last five games, including a season-high 15 at Cal State Fullerton last Tuesday. The Bruins are an undefeated 20-0 when putting up double digits in the hit column.ย
Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2019 - 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Malibu, Calif. (Eddy D. Field Stadium)
Stream: WCC.tv
Audio:ย UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
UCLA Heads To The Coast For Midweek At Pepperdineย ย ย
No. 1 UCLA (34-7), winners of five straight and 13 of the last 14 games, wraps up its April slate on Tuesday afternoon by traveling to WCC-member Pepperdine for a 3:00 p.m. matchup. The Bruins edged the Waves 3-2 on Apr. 15 of this season at Jackie Robinson Stadium in a make-up of a game originally scheduled for Mar. 5. UCLABruins.com will carry a live audio broadcast of every game this season and fans can follow along on Twitter at @UCLABaseball.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, Apr. 30 - 3:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - RHP Sean Mullen, RHP, Fr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
PEPP - Raul Salazar, RHP, RFr. (1-3, 3.71 ERA)
The Story So Far ย
UCLA is 34-7 to start the 2019 campaign and 14-4 in Pac-12 play, winning all 10 of its weekend series, taking two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic, and posting an unbeaten 8-0 record in midweeks. At 34-7, UCLA ย has the best record through 41 games in program history, besting the previous mark of 31-10 (1979, 2010, 2015).ย
Bruins Remain Consensus No. 1 Team In The Country
After winning the series over Utah, 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 seventh consecutive week. In addition, the Bruins topped the list of Collegiate Baseball for the fourth 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 seven weeks, this is the longest consecutive stretch of being ranked No. 1 nationally in program history.ย
The Week In Review
UCLA went 4-0 last week, defeating Cal State Fullerton 8-3 on the road on Tuesday night before sweeping Utah at home in Pac-12 action over the weekend.
- Jesse Bergin tossed five-plus innings of one-run ball while UCLA had a standout offensive night - scoring in each of the final six innings while matching a season-high with 15 hits - to defeat Cal State Fullerton 8-3 on Tuesday night. It was the first time this season that the Bruins scored in six consecutive innings, and the victory improved the Bruins' record in midweeks to 8-0. Jake Pries and Garrett Mitchell each had key two-run homers, while Noah Cardenas had three hits for the second straight game. Bergin received the win to improve to 5-0 on the year, shutting out the Titans for the first five innings of the game. His one earned run against came after he departed the game.ย
- Ryan Garcia fired a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead UCLA to a 5-0 win over Utah in the series opener. Garcia struck out a career-high 14 batters in the game, becoming the first Bruin to hit that mark since Trevor Bauer in 2011. Garcia allowed just three baserunners all night, and none advanced past first base. He retired the first eight and final 11 batters he faced. Ryan Kreidler, Michael Toglia, and Noah Cardenas each had two hits to lead the Bruin offense, which rallied for a decisive three-run rally in the second inning.ย
- Jack Ralston picked up where Ryan Garcia led off on Saturday, recording an outstanding six-inning start to help the Bruins to a 6-1 victory. Ralston improved to a team-best 7-0 after receiving the win, which he qualified for after allowing one earned while striking out a career-high eight batters. The Utes got to Ralston for a run in the top of the first, but Ralston shut them down from there on out, holding them to just a single for the rest of his outing. He ended up retiring a career-best 14 straight batters to close out his outing, the longest streak by a Bruin this year. Chase Strumpf doubled in a run in the bottom of the first and later scored on a Jack Stronach base hit to plate the game-winning run. Michael Toglia and Jake Pries added long home runs in the third and fifth, respectively, to pad the lead.
- UCLA won 6-4 in the series finale, scoring three in the bottom of the first and then fending off the Utes who posted two-spots in the fifth and eighth innings to make it a one-run game. Garrett Mitchell finished a home run short of the cycle and scored three runs to pace the UCLA offense while Michael Townsend earned his first collegiate win with a scoreless seventh inning. Holden Powell preserved the lead with a six-out save, his 12th overall for the year.ย
UCLA has won all 10 ย 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.ย
UCLA Takes Over Nationalย Lead In ERA
After allowing just eight runs over four games last week, UCLA took over the national lead in team ERA at 2.64. The Bruins also rank among the nation's best in hits allowed per nine innings (6.3, second) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.11, ninth). UCLA has allowed one earned run or fewer in 17 of its 41 games this season. Were the season to end today, UCLA's ERA would be the fifth-best in program history.ย
Garcia Named Pac-12 Pitcher of The Week
After his masterpiece against the Utes, Ryan Garcia was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week. He becomes the fifth Bruin ever to win three Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards in one season and the first since Trevor Bauer in 2011. No other league pitcher has won Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week more than once in 2019. All three of Garcia's honors have come since Mar. 25.ย
Midweek Notes
UCLA is an undefeated 8-0 in midweeks this season, going 4-0 both at home and on the road. Garrett Mitchell (.441/.487/.647), Noah Cardenas (.421/.520/.474), and Michael Toglia (.333/.3444/.500) have all feasted on midweek pitching this year. As a team, the Bruins are outhitting their opponents .290 to .197 in midweeks while holding a 1.88 to 5.03 ERA advantage. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles).
Holden' It Down At The End Of The Game
Sophomore closer Holden Powell is in the midst of a hot streak, which led to his inclusion on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List Midseason Update. Powell has gone 15 straight appearances, spanning 16.0 innings, without giving up an earned run. In that span, he's struck out 21 and allowed just three hits. He tossed three scoreless frames against Utah last weekend, including a six-out save in Sunday's series finale. Powell leads the Pac-12 and is fourth nationally with 12 saves. He is the first Bruin with double-digit saves since David Berg had 13 in 2015. He last allowed an earned run on Mar. 17.ย
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 (fourth). The Bruins are the only team in the country to rank top-10 in both fielding percentage and ERA.ย
Savage Records Pair of Milestone Wins in 2019ย ย ย
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.ย
Cardenas Backs Up His Play As The Backstop
Noah Cardenas has been one of UCLA's hottest hitters in the last few weeks, leading to more playing time behind the dish. Since Apr. 7, he's gone 17-33 (.515) to raise his season batting average 129 points. He has a trio of three-hit performances in that span. Cardenas had a nine-game hit streak snapped with an 0-2 line on Saturday, his first 0-fer since Apr. 6. He has started 12 of the last 14 games behind the dish after starting the season in a time-share. ย
Last Time Out Against Pepperdine
UCLA edged Pepperdine 3-2 in a home contest on Apr. 15, using a three-run bottom of the seventh to erase a two-run deficit and pull out a 3-2 triumph. In that seventh inning rally, the Bruins loaded the bases on an error, single, and eight-pitch walk to Garrett Mitchell. Ryan Kreidler broke the shutout with an RBI groundout, and then Chase Strumpf came through with a two-run single to plate the eventual game-winning run. Kyle Mora and Holden Powell took over from there, recording scoreless innings to seal the 3-2 win. Jesse Bergin allowed two earned in a six-inning start.ย
Toglia Teeing Off
After a bit of a slow start to the season - he was batting .207 through the team's first 15 games - first baseman Michael Toglia is starting to heat up with the bat, collecting hits in 18 of his last 21 games. Earlier this month he had a monster week against UCI and ECU, going 7-15 with eight RBIs and four extra-base hits, including a walk-off home run in the opener of a Saturday doubleheader with the Pirates. Against Utah, he hit a home run on Saturday and Sunday to bring his team-leading home run total to eight. He also leads the club in RBIs (40) and extra-base hits (22).ย
Grab Some Pine
The UCLA pitching staff has proven adept at punching out batters this year, leading the Pac-12 and ranking fifth in the nation with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. UCLA has punched out at least 10 batters in 23 of its 38 games, including five straight Pac-12 contests. UCLA has four of the top-10 strikeout pitchers in the Pac-12, including Ryan Garcia (69, third), Jesse Bergin (65, sixth), Zach Pettway (60, eighth), and Jack Ralston (59, ninth).ย
Offense Heats Up
Over the last month, UCLA is averaging 6.5 runs per game and has four regulars hitting .300 or better: Noah Cardenas (.422), Michael Toglia (.360), Jack Stronach (.342), and Jake Pries (.308). As a team, the Bruins rank in the top-half of the Pac-12 in all three slash categories: batting average (.284, fourth), OBP (.378, fifth), and slugging (.438, fifth).ย
Stronach Making The Most Of His Opportunity
Junior Jack Stronach has been one of UCLA's unsung heroes this year, serving as one of the team's leading bats since assuming a full-time role on Mar. 1. From Mar. 1 to Apr. 7 (21 games), he posted a .444/.516/.619 slash line, leading the team by wide margins in all categories while collecting seven extra-base hits and 17 RBIs. He has especially punished Pac-12 opponents, collecting at least four hits and batting .400 or better in all six of the Bruins' conference series. He was 5-10 (.500) against Oregon State, 6-11 (.545) against Arizona, 5-11 (.455) against USC, 6-12 (.500) against Stanford), 5-11 (.455) against Cal, and 4-10 against Utah (.400). His .470 batting average in league play leads all Pac-12 hitters.
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).ย
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 32-game reached base streak, and he has only been kept off base in just two games total so far this year. He has a hit in 33 of 41 games this year, the most of any Bruin.ย
Putting Down Roots
UCLA didn't leave Los Angeles County for the entire month of March, as the team's only road games were at LBSU, LMU, and USC. After traveling to Stanford Apr. 5-7, the Bruins stay in Southern California for the rest of April, traveling for just two road contests (at Cal State Fullerton and at Pepperdine). ย
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).ย
Six Is The Magic Number
If the Bruins can get to six runs, they're in pretty good shape. So far this season, UCLA has posted an unbeaten 25-0 record when reaching the six-run plateau. UCLA opponents are just 4-3 when scoring six runs or more.ย
Seeing Triple
The Bruins have legged out 18 triples this season, a figure which ranks ninth nationally and second in the Pac-12. Five separate Bruins have multiple three-baggers, led by Matt McLain's six (fourth nationally, tied for the most by a Bruin since 1988). Garrett Mitchell, 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 142 innings, Bruin relievers have combined to record a 2.21 ERA with strong peripherals including 11.5 K/9 and 5.2 hits per nine innings ratios. The Bruin bullpen has gone unscored upon 21 times in 41 games this year. Standouts include Kyle Mora (NCAA-high 32 appearances this year), Holden Powell (league-leading 12 saves), Nate Hadley (6-1, 3.70 hits per nine innings), and Jack Filby (2-0, 1.65 ERA).ย
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 52-12 in the seventh inning for the season, a plus-40 run differential. UCLA's next-best single-inning differential is the second (31-12, plus-19). The Bruins are outscoring their opponents 253-125 overall for the year.ย
WHIP It Good
At 1.07, UCLA enters the weekend with thelowest WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in the country. The Bruins have posted a sub-1.00 WHIP 19 times in 41 games, including in 10 of the first 11 games of the year. Ryan Garcia (0.86) and Nate Hadley (0.95) have the lowest WHIPs on the team among active pitchers.ย
Comeback Kids
UCLA has proven undaunted when facing a deficit this season, as 17 of the team's 34 wins this season have been of the come-from-behind variety (50%).ย
Off To A Good Start
UCLA is an unbeaten 11-0 this season when scoring in the first inning. Similarly, the Bruins are 21-3 (.875 winning percentage) when scoring first, compared to a 13-4 (.765) mark when the opposition gets on the board first.ย
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 10 weekend series and in two midweek games.ย
Nailing It Down
The Bruins have been rock-steady at the back end of games this year, posting a 28-0 record this year when holding the lead after seven innings. Taking it further, the Bruins are 31-0 when leading after eight.ย
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.ย
Double-Digit Hits
As a team, UCLA has recorded double-digit hits 20 times this season. Their hit output has increased recently, as the Bruins have recorded 10 or more hits in four of their last five games, including a season-high 15 at Cal State Fullerton last Tuesday. The Bruins are an undefeated 20-0 when putting up double digits in the hit column.ย
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