Friday, February 14
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM
UCLA
vs
UC Riverside
Noah Cardenas (photo; Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
UCLA Opens 2020 Campaign at Home Against UC Riverside
February 13, 2020 | Baseball
No. 8 UCLA (0-0) vs. UC Riverside (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 - 2:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020 - 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: Jackie Robinson Stadium
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
No. 8 UCLA OPENS 2020 SEASON AT HOME AGAINST UC RIVERSIDE
UCLA commences the 2020 college baseball season this weekend, hosting Big West-member UC Riverside for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. The set continues with a 2:00 p.m. contest on Saturday followed by a 1:00 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Feb. 14 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - Cole Percival, RHP, RSo. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 15 - 2:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Nick Nastrini, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - Abbott Haffar, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 16 - 1:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - TBA
HOORAY FOR OPENING DAY
UCLA is opening the season at home for the 10th consecutive season, and 17th time in the last 18 seasons. The Bruins are 10-5 on Opening Day in the John Savage era (since 2005), and have won their opening series in six of the last seven years. Since 1981, the year Jackie Robinson Stadium opened, UCLA has gone 20-7 at home on Opening Day.
BRUINS IN THE PRESEASON POLLS
UCLA is represented in all five of the preseason major national polls. The Bruins are ranked as high as No. 8 (ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll), but are also tabbed at No. 10 (Baseball America), No. 11 (NCBWA), No. 12 (Collegiate Baseball), and No. 14 (D1Baseball).
PETTWAY DRAWS THE OPENING DAY START
Junior right-hander Zach Pettway will toe the rubber for UCLA on Friday, the second consecutive year in which he's been the Bruins' Opening Day starter. He joins an elite list of recent Bruins who have made multiple Opening Day starts, including Gerrit Cole (2010-11), Adam Plutko (2012-13), and James Kaprielian (2014-15). Pettway is UCLA's first multi-time Opening Day starter since Kaprielian. Last year, Pettway fired six innings, struck out nine, and allowed two runs - both unearned - as the Bruins claimed a 3-2 decision over St. John's.
A DECADE OF OPENING DAY STARTS
2019 - Zach Petttway - ND, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
2018 - Jake Bird - W, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
2017 - Griffin Canning - ND, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
2016 - Grant Dyer - L, 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
2015 - James Kaprielian - W, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
2014 - James Kaprielian - L, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
2013 - Adam Plutko - ND, 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
2012 - Adam Plutko - ND, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
2011 - Gerrit Cole - W, 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
2010 - Gerrit Cole - W, 6 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
2019 IN BRIEF
UCLA posted a 52-11 record for the 2019 season and went 24-5 in conference play en route to the 2019 Pac-12 Championship. During the regular season, the Bruins won all 14 of their weekend series, took two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball classic, and posted an unbeaten 11-0 record in midweeks. UCLA was selected as the No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament - the second time that's happened in program history - and a regional host. The Bruins fought through the elimination bracket to win the Los Angeles Regional, but dropped a three-game series to Michigan in the Los Angeles Super Regional.
UCLA SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR WINS
UCLA finished 2019 with 47 regular season wins and 52 wins overall, both representing new program records. The previous mark for wins in a season was 51, set in 2010. This year marked the second time in program history - both in the John Savage era - that UCLA reached the 50 win mark. UCLA ended the 2019 campaign with the second-most wins in the country, trailing only national champion Vanderbilt, and tied for the fewest losses in the country with UC Santa Barbara, which played seven fewer games than the Bruins.
WIN, WIN, WIN
UCLA's 2019 season was among the most successful in program history.
Program record for regular season wins (47) and overall wins (52)
Program record for conference wins (24) and Pac-12 winning percentage (.828)
.825 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
FEELING A DRAFT
A total of 13 Bruins were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, which took place from Jun. 3-5.
UCLA junior righty Holden Powell was named to the 2020 Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. Powell took home the award last year, which is given out annually by the NCBWA to the top reliever in college baseball. He is the second Bruin all-time to win the award, joining David Berg (2013, 2015) who remains the lone two-time winner of the award since its inception in 2005.
PLENTY OF PRESEASON PUB FOR MITCHELL, POWELL
After breakout sophomore campaigns, UCLA juniors Garrett Mitchell and Holden Powell have been picking up plenty of preseason praise this winter. Mitchell has been a unanimous Preseason All-America selection, including First Team designation from D1Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game. Powell meanwhile picked up First Team Preseason All-America acclaim from Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, and Perfect Game.
PETTWAY TABBED PRESEASON LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE YEAR
In D1Baseball's annual preview of the Pac-12 Conference, UCLA junior Zach Pettway was chosen as the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Long Beach, Calif. native is 10-6 with a 3.83 ERA over two years as a weekend rotation member for the Bruins.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
UCLA's current class of newcomers was ranked No. 5 in the country this fall by Baseball America. Its the third consecutive season that the Bruins' incoming class has been ranked top-five, and that trend has a strong chance of continuing next year as UCLA's 2021 class was ranked No. 4 on National Signing Day. The newest group of Bruins is highlighted by Michael Curialle, the No. 16-ranked freshman nationally per Baseball America. Other ranked freshmen include first baseman JT Schwartz (No. 26, D1Baseball), outfielder Emanuel Dean (50, BA), left-handed pitcher Josh Hahn (86, D1), and left-handed pitcher Jake Saum (130, D1). The Bruins also welcome a pair of transfers in Pat Caulfield (Santa Barbara City College; set WCL record with 42 stolen bases this summer) and Adrian Chaidez (Cypress College; 12.2 K/9 last season).
BRUINS RECOGNIZED ON TOP HITTERS/PITCHERS LISTS
Six members of the UCLA baseball team were highlighted as D1Baseball released its lists of the Top-150 Hitters and Pitchers in the college ranks. Four pitchers made the cut for the top-150, including senior Kyle Mora (No. 58), sophomore Jesse Bergin (75), junior Holden Powell (90), and junior Zach Pettway (146). A pair of Bruin position players were included as well, both inside the top-100. Junior outfielder Garrett Mitchell (No. 37) was first followed by sophomore catcher Noah Cardenas (54).
ALUMNI GAME IN BRIEF
The 2020 Bruins defeated the alumni, 4-3, in the program's annual alumni game on Jan. 25. Ryan Kreidler ('19 draftee) provided all the offense for the alums with a three-run homer in the top of the third. Redshirt junior Jordan Prendiz and freshman Michael Curialle were the standouts for the 2020 Bruins with two RBIs apiece. Curialle drove in the game-winning run with a two-run double into the right-center field gap in the fourth. Sean Mullen and Charles Harrison combined to throw five innings of two-hit, shutout relief.
MITCHELL PRIMED FOR A BIG YEAR
After a stellar sophomore campaign, junior center fielder Garrett Mitchell has been identified as one of the top draft-eligible players in the college game, recently being named No. 6 on the Baseball America Top College Prospects list. Mitchell was a five-tool spark plug at the top of the Bruin lineup last year, slashing .349/.418/.566 with a program-record/NCAA-leading 12 triples while being named a finalist for an ABCA Gold Glove. Mitchell was invited to play for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer, but had his campaign cut short after four games due to injury. He is the No. 2-ranked outfielder in the NCAA per D1Baseball's positional power rankings.
McLAIN MOVES TO SHORT
Sophomore Matt McLain will have a new, yet familiar position with UCLA this year - taking over duties as the team's starting shortstop. He was UCLA's primary center fielder in 2019, but was primarily a shortstop during his prep years and was drafted as an infielder by the Diamondbacks in 2018. The Tustin, Calif. native had an up-and-down freshman campaign, batting .203 but collecting 19 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs while playing solid defense in the center of the park. He hit .274 over the summer in the Cape Cod League.
CARDENAS SET FOR YEAR TWO
Sophomore catcher Noah Cardenas burst onto the scene last year, wresting the starting catcher spot and ending the year with a team-best .375 batting average. He also handled a pitching staff that had the lowest ERA in the country by a sizable margin. He kept swinging a hot stick over the summer, batting .297 with Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape. His solid two-way play caught the eyes of pundits nationwide, leading to a No. 7 ranking in D1Baseball's positional power rankings.
MIDWEEK NOTES
UCLA recorded an undefeated 11-0 record in midweeks last season, going 5-0 at home and 6-0 on the road. 2019 marked the second time in the John Savage era that UCLA went unbeaten in midweeks (2012). UCLA outhit its opponents by 100 points in midweek games (.282 to .182) and held a 1.59 to 4.81 advantage in team ERA. Top offensive players in midweeks included Garrett Mitchell (.438/.481/.667) and Noah Cardenas (.364/.464/.409) while top pitchers included Nate Hadley (5-0, 0 R in 11.1 IP), Felix Rubi (1.42 ERA in 12.2 IP), and Nick Nastrini (0 R in two starts).
HISTORY AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS
UCLA has a 22-13 all-time record against UC Riverside. This weekend represents just the second series between the Bruins and Highlanders in recorded history and the first since 2008, when UCLA swept a three-game set at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins are 9-7 against UCR under John Savage, including a 7-3 mark at home.
HOLDEN IT DOWN AT THE END OF THE GAME
Junior closer Holden Powell returns to UCLA this spring as one of the top relievers in the college game. Powell posted 17 saves last year with a 1.84 ERA en route to NCBWA Stopper of the Year and First Team All-America honors. His save total was second in the country and also second in UCLA single-season history. The Visalia, Calif. native was downright unhittable at times, posting a 20-inning streak without an earned run from Mar. 22 to May 5 and putting together two separate hitless streaks of eight innings.
PITCHING AND DEFENSE
UCLA finished the 2019 season with the third-best fielding percentage in the country at .982. The Bruins were also third in the country in fielding in 2018 with an identical fielding percentage. UCLA was the only team in the country last year to rank top-10 in both ERA and fielding percentage.
HOT AT HOME
UCLA won 32 of 39 home games last year, an improvement on the team's .745 winning percentage (73-25) at Jackie Robinson Stadium since the start of the 2017 season. The Bruins have won 17 consecutive regular season series - including nine Pac-12 sets - on their home field dating back to April 21-23, 2017 (Oregon State).
BRUINS IN THE D1BASEBALL PRESEASON POSITIONAL POWER RANKINGS
UCLA was well-represented in the preseason D1Baseball positional power rankings:
Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 - 2:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020 - 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: Jackie Robinson Stadium
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats
No. 8 UCLA OPENS 2020 SEASON AT HOME AGAINST UC RIVERSIDE
UCLA commences the 2020 college baseball season this weekend, hosting Big West-member UC Riverside for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. The set continues with a 2:00 p.m. contest on Saturday followed by a 1:00 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Feb. 14 - 6:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - Cole Percival, RHP, RSo. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 15 - 2:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Nick Nastrini, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - Abbott Haffar, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 16 - 1:00 p.m. PT
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, So. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
UCR - TBA
HOORAY FOR OPENING DAY
UCLA is opening the season at home for the 10th consecutive season, and 17th time in the last 18 seasons. The Bruins are 10-5 on Opening Day in the John Savage era (since 2005), and have won their opening series in six of the last seven years. Since 1981, the year Jackie Robinson Stadium opened, UCLA has gone 20-7 at home on Opening Day.
BRUINS IN THE PRESEASON POLLS
UCLA is represented in all five of the preseason major national polls. The Bruins are ranked as high as No. 8 (ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll), but are also tabbed at No. 10 (Baseball America), No. 11 (NCBWA), No. 12 (Collegiate Baseball), and No. 14 (D1Baseball).
PETTWAY DRAWS THE OPENING DAY START
Junior right-hander Zach Pettway will toe the rubber for UCLA on Friday, the second consecutive year in which he's been the Bruins' Opening Day starter. He joins an elite list of recent Bruins who have made multiple Opening Day starts, including Gerrit Cole (2010-11), Adam Plutko (2012-13), and James Kaprielian (2014-15). Pettway is UCLA's first multi-time Opening Day starter since Kaprielian. Last year, Pettway fired six innings, struck out nine, and allowed two runs - both unearned - as the Bruins claimed a 3-2 decision over St. John's.
A DECADE OF OPENING DAY STARTS
2019 - Zach Petttway - ND, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
2018 - Jake Bird - W, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
2017 - Griffin Canning - ND, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
2016 - Grant Dyer - L, 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
2015 - James Kaprielian - W, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
2014 - James Kaprielian - L, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
2013 - Adam Plutko - ND, 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
2012 - Adam Plutko - ND, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
2011 - Gerrit Cole - W, 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
2010 - Gerrit Cole - W, 6 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
2019 IN BRIEF
UCLA posted a 52-11 record for the 2019 season and went 24-5 in conference play en route to the 2019 Pac-12 Championship. During the regular season, the Bruins won all 14 of their weekend series, took two of three in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball classic, and posted an unbeaten 11-0 record in midweeks. UCLA was selected as the No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament - the second time that's happened in program history - and a regional host. The Bruins fought through the elimination bracket to win the Los Angeles Regional, but dropped a three-game series to Michigan in the Los Angeles Super Regional.
UCLA SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR WINS
UCLA finished 2019 with 47 regular season wins and 52 wins overall, both representing new program records. The previous mark for wins in a season was 51, set in 2010. This year marked the second time in program history - both in the John Savage era - that UCLA reached the 50 win mark. UCLA ended the 2019 campaign with the second-most wins in the country, trailing only national champion Vanderbilt, and tied for the fewest losses in the country with UC Santa Barbara, which played seven fewer games than the Bruins.
WIN, WIN, WIN
UCLA's 2019 season was among the most successful in program history.
Program record for regular season wins (47) and overall wins (52)
Program record for conference wins (24) and Pac-12 winning percentage (.828)
.825 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
FEELING A DRAFT
A total of 13 Bruins were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, which took place from Jun. 3-5.
- The 13 selections, which included 11 members of the 2019 UCLA roster, represented a new program record and was 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 junior righty Holden Powell was named to the 2020 Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. Powell took home the award last year, which is given out annually by the NCBWA to the top reliever in college baseball. He is the second Bruin all-time to win the award, joining David Berg (2013, 2015) who remains the lone two-time winner of the award since its inception in 2005.
PLENTY OF PRESEASON PUB FOR MITCHELL, POWELL
After breakout sophomore campaigns, UCLA juniors Garrett Mitchell and Holden Powell have been picking up plenty of preseason praise this winter. Mitchell has been a unanimous Preseason All-America selection, including First Team designation from D1Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game. Powell meanwhile picked up First Team Preseason All-America acclaim from Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, and Perfect Game.
PETTWAY TABBED PRESEASON LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE YEAR
In D1Baseball's annual preview of the Pac-12 Conference, UCLA junior Zach Pettway was chosen as the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Long Beach, Calif. native is 10-6 with a 3.83 ERA over two years as a weekend rotation member for the Bruins.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
UCLA's current class of newcomers was ranked No. 5 in the country this fall by Baseball America. Its the third consecutive season that the Bruins' incoming class has been ranked top-five, and that trend has a strong chance of continuing next year as UCLA's 2021 class was ranked No. 4 on National Signing Day. The newest group of Bruins is highlighted by Michael Curialle, the No. 16-ranked freshman nationally per Baseball America. Other ranked freshmen include first baseman JT Schwartz (No. 26, D1Baseball), outfielder Emanuel Dean (50, BA), left-handed pitcher Josh Hahn (86, D1), and left-handed pitcher Jake Saum (130, D1). The Bruins also welcome a pair of transfers in Pat Caulfield (Santa Barbara City College; set WCL record with 42 stolen bases this summer) and Adrian Chaidez (Cypress College; 12.2 K/9 last season).
BRUINS RECOGNIZED ON TOP HITTERS/PITCHERS LISTS
Six members of the UCLA baseball team were highlighted as D1Baseball released its lists of the Top-150 Hitters and Pitchers in the college ranks. Four pitchers made the cut for the top-150, including senior Kyle Mora (No. 58), sophomore Jesse Bergin (75), junior Holden Powell (90), and junior Zach Pettway (146). A pair of Bruin position players were included as well, both inside the top-100. Junior outfielder Garrett Mitchell (No. 37) was first followed by sophomore catcher Noah Cardenas (54).
ALUMNI GAME IN BRIEF
The 2020 Bruins defeated the alumni, 4-3, in the program's annual alumni game on Jan. 25. Ryan Kreidler ('19 draftee) provided all the offense for the alums with a three-run homer in the top of the third. Redshirt junior Jordan Prendiz and freshman Michael Curialle were the standouts for the 2020 Bruins with two RBIs apiece. Curialle drove in the game-winning run with a two-run double into the right-center field gap in the fourth. Sean Mullen and Charles Harrison combined to throw five innings of two-hit, shutout relief.
MITCHELL PRIMED FOR A BIG YEAR
After a stellar sophomore campaign, junior center fielder Garrett Mitchell has been identified as one of the top draft-eligible players in the college game, recently being named No. 6 on the Baseball America Top College Prospects list. Mitchell was a five-tool spark plug at the top of the Bruin lineup last year, slashing .349/.418/.566 with a program-record/NCAA-leading 12 triples while being named a finalist for an ABCA Gold Glove. Mitchell was invited to play for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer, but had his campaign cut short after four games due to injury. He is the No. 2-ranked outfielder in the NCAA per D1Baseball's positional power rankings.
McLAIN MOVES TO SHORT
Sophomore Matt McLain will have a new, yet familiar position with UCLA this year - taking over duties as the team's starting shortstop. He was UCLA's primary center fielder in 2019, but was primarily a shortstop during his prep years and was drafted as an infielder by the Diamondbacks in 2018. The Tustin, Calif. native had an up-and-down freshman campaign, batting .203 but collecting 19 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs while playing solid defense in the center of the park. He hit .274 over the summer in the Cape Cod League.
CARDENAS SET FOR YEAR TWO
Sophomore catcher Noah Cardenas burst onto the scene last year, wresting the starting catcher spot and ending the year with a team-best .375 batting average. He also handled a pitching staff that had the lowest ERA in the country by a sizable margin. He kept swinging a hot stick over the summer, batting .297 with Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape. His solid two-way play caught the eyes of pundits nationwide, leading to a No. 7 ranking in D1Baseball's positional power rankings.
MIDWEEK NOTES
UCLA recorded an undefeated 11-0 record in midweeks last season, going 5-0 at home and 6-0 on the road. 2019 marked the second time in the John Savage era that UCLA went unbeaten in midweeks (2012). UCLA outhit its opponents by 100 points in midweek games (.282 to .182) and held a 1.59 to 4.81 advantage in team ERA. Top offensive players in midweeks included Garrett Mitchell (.438/.481/.667) and Noah Cardenas (.364/.464/.409) while top pitchers included Nate Hadley (5-0, 0 R in 11.1 IP), Felix Rubi (1.42 ERA in 12.2 IP), and Nick Nastrini (0 R in two starts).
HISTORY AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS
UCLA has a 22-13 all-time record against UC Riverside. This weekend represents just the second series between the Bruins and Highlanders in recorded history and the first since 2008, when UCLA swept a three-game set at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins are 9-7 against UCR under John Savage, including a 7-3 mark at home.
HOLDEN IT DOWN AT THE END OF THE GAME
Junior closer Holden Powell returns to UCLA this spring as one of the top relievers in the college game. Powell posted 17 saves last year with a 1.84 ERA en route to NCBWA Stopper of the Year and First Team All-America honors. His save total was second in the country and also second in UCLA single-season history. The Visalia, Calif. native was downright unhittable at times, posting a 20-inning streak without an earned run from Mar. 22 to May 5 and putting together two separate hitless streaks of eight innings.
PITCHING AND DEFENSE
UCLA finished the 2019 season with the third-best fielding percentage in the country at .982. The Bruins were also third in the country in fielding in 2018 with an identical fielding percentage. UCLA was the only team in the country last year to rank top-10 in both ERA and fielding percentage.
HOT AT HOME
UCLA won 32 of 39 home games last year, an improvement on the team's .745 winning percentage (73-25) at Jackie Robinson Stadium since the start of the 2017 season. The Bruins have won 17 consecutive regular season series - including nine Pac-12 sets - on their home field dating back to April 21-23, 2017 (Oregon State).
BRUINS IN THE D1BASEBALL PRESEASON POSITIONAL POWER RANKINGS
UCLA was well-represented in the preseason D1Baseball positional power rankings:
- Catcher - Noah Cardenas, No. 7
- Shortstop - Matt McLain, No. 26
- Outfield - Garrett Mitchell, No. 2
- Starting Pitcher - Nick Nastrini, No. 53; Zach Pettway, No. 54
- Relief Pitcher: Holden Powell, No. 2; Kyle Mora, No. 8
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