Tuesday, April 9
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM
UCLA
vs
Pepperdine
Mulivai Levu
Photo by: Scott Chandler
Baseball Concludes Homestand With Pepperdine Midweek
April 08, 2024 | Baseball
UCLA (12-17) vs. Pepperdine (11-21)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 6 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
Audio:ย UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent:ย Nick Koop
Live Stats
UCLA Hosts Pepperdine on Tuesday Nightย ย ย
The UCLA baseball team (12-17) concludes a four-game homestand on Tuesday night by hosting local rival Pepperdine (11-21) for a midweek matchup at 6 p.m. PT. The game will not be streamed, though fans can listen to an audio broadcast with Nick Koop on the call via UCLABruins.com. Fans can also follow along with live stats (StatBroadcast) and X/Twitter updates (@UCLABaseball).ย
UCLA Quick Hitsย ย ย
Tuesday, April 9 - 6 p.m. PTย
UCLA - Fr. RHP Luke Rodriguez (1-3, 3.24 ERA)
PEPP - Fr. RHP Jordan Cole (1-1, 5.30 ERA)
The Week In Reviewย ย ย
UCLA is 2-2 over the last week, winning a road midweek at LMU before dropping two of three at home to Oregon:
The Bruins are off to a strong start in home games so far this season, going 11-6 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA holds advantages in batting (.267-.253), OBP (.401-.359), slugging (.401-.359), and ERA (4.73-5.87).The Bruins went 19-9-1 at JRS a season ago, including a 13-game home winning streak to open the campaign. UCLA had a plus-63 run differential (207-144) in home games last year.ย
The All-Time Series Against the Wavesย ย ย
UCLA owns a 68-40-4 record in the all-time series against Pepperdine, including a 22-8 mark under head coach John Savage. The Bruins have accrued an 8-2 record in the last 10 meetings with the Waves, splitting the season series with Pepperdine in both 2022 and 2023.
Last Year Against Pepperdineย ย ย
UCLA split a home-and-home midweek series with Pepperdine last season:
Game 1 (Feb. 21, 2023 at UCLA) โ UCLA finished off an unbeaten first week of the 2023 season with an 11-2 win over Pepperdine. The Bruins scored seven runs in the first inning to establish control, a rally which was capped off by an opposite-field two-run homer from JonJon Vaughns. UCLA allowed a run in just two of nine defensive innings, answering back to score in the bottom half both times. Seven pitchers saw the mound for UCLA, as Chris Aldrich (six-up, six-down in 2 IP) earned the win and Michael Barnett (2 IP, 1 ER, 4 K) looked solid in his first collegiate start.ย
Game 2 (Apr. 11, 2023 at Pepperdine) โ UCLA totaled 15 hits and fought back to tie the game on four occasions, but dropped an 8-7 result at Pepperdine. The Waves answered back to re-take the lead in each of the four innings UCLA tied it, walking off in the ninth on a hit-and-run bloop single that scored a runner from first base. Four different Bruins had multiple hits, including career days from Malakhi Knight (4-5, three RBIs) and Josh Hahn (3-5, two runs).
Current Bruins Against Pepperdineย ย ย
Active Bruins with strong career numbers against Pepperdine include: Chris Aldrich (4 apps, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 0 BB, 7 K), Duce Gourson (.313/.450/.500, 3 2B, 3 RBIs in 4 GP), Jack Holman (3-9, 2 2B in 2 GP), Malakhi Knight (7-13, 3 R, 5 RBIs in 3 GP), and Daylen Reyes (5-13, 4 R, 3 RBIs in 3 GP).ย
Midweek Notesย ย ย
UCLA enters the contest ranked in the upper-third nationally in the following team stats:
BB/9 - 3.95 (5th in the Pac-12 / 57th in the NCAA)
ERA - 4.88 (6th / 62nd)
WHIP - 1.48 (7th / 77th)
K-BB Ratio - 2.04 (5th / 90th)
Dependable Duceย ย ย
UCLA junior infielder Duce Gourson has been a constant presence on the basepaths this season, reaching in 26 of 28 games thus far (he was kept off in the final two games of the TCU series, but has reached in every other contest). His 24 walks rank fourth in the Pac-12, only two behind No. 2 Ryan Campos of ASU and Malcolm Moore of Stanford. However, he has not been walked in six of the last seven games after earning at least one base on balls in 15 of his first 21 outings.
Good Eyeย ย ย
So far this season, UCLA has issued more walks than its drawn just eight times in 29 games. The Bruins own a plus-32 walk differential overall on the season (146 drawn, 114 issued), good for third in the Pac-12, sixth among schools in the western half of the country, and 39th overall in the NCAA. UCLA is averaging 8.4 free passes (walks + hit batters) per game in wins this season, compared to 4.8 in losses.
Bullpen A Boonย ย ย
UCLA's bullpen has been a particular strength over the last couple weeks. Collectively, Bruin relievers have allowed two earned runs or fewer in six consecutive games, including standout efforts against LMU on Apr. 2 (6.2 IP, 1 R, 10 K) and games against Oregon on Saturday (4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 7 K) and Sunday (5.2 IP, 1 R, 5 K). Graduate closer Rashad Ruff has led the group, co-leading the nation with 19 appearances while locking down six saves, good for second in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally. With injuries forcing pitchers into more high-leverage roles, several have stood out over the last five games, including Luke Rodriguez (0.00 ERA in 5.2 IP), Ruff (1.80 ERA in 10 IP), Justin Lee (2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP), and Caedon Kottinger (0.00 ERA in 2.2 IP).ย
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 6 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)
Audio:ย UCLA Lean Player
Audio Talent:ย Nick Koop
Live Stats
UCLA Hosts Pepperdine on Tuesday Nightย ย ย
The UCLA baseball team (12-17) concludes a four-game homestand on Tuesday night by hosting local rival Pepperdine (11-21) for a midweek matchup at 6 p.m. PT. The game will not be streamed, though fans can listen to an audio broadcast with Nick Koop on the call via UCLABruins.com. Fans can also follow along with live stats (StatBroadcast) and X/Twitter updates (@UCLABaseball).ย
UCLA Quick Hitsย ย ย
- UCLA is 12-17 overall on the season, including a 7-7 mark over the team's last 14 games
- The Bruins are 4-2 in midweek contests, with wins against Nevada, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, and LMU
- The Bruins are 11-6 so far this season at home
- UCLA is 5-10 in Pac-12 play, taking weekend series against Washington State and USC
- The Bruins enter the week with a plus-32 walk differential (146 drawn, 114 issued)
- Duce Gourson has reached base in 22 consecutive games, and 26-of-28 games overall this season
- UCLA has started multiple players at all nine defensive positions (plus DH)
- UCLA is coming off a 28-24-1 campaign and a berth into the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament
- It marked the program's 7th consecutive winning season and 15th overall in 19 seasons under HC John Savage
- The Bruins' freshman class was the No. 1-ranked recruit class in the country (as was the junior class)
- Junior 2B Duce Gourson earned Preseason All-America acclaim from Baseball America and Perfect Game
- Gourson, Cody Schrier, and Luke Jewett were named to the 2024 Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference Team
- The Bruins were picked to finish 3rd in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
- Bruin alum Gerrit Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young, making UCLA the first DI school ever to have had multiple Cy Young winners on the same team
Tuesday, April 9 - 6 p.m. PTย
UCLA - Fr. RHP Luke Rodriguez (1-3, 3.24 ERA)
PEPP - Fr. RHP Jordan Cole (1-1, 5.30 ERA)
The Week In Reviewย ย ย
UCLA is 2-2 over the last week, winning a road midweek at LMU before dropping two of three at home to Oregon:
- TUE โ UCLA's freshman class led the way in a 4-1 midweek victory at LMU, capturing the squad's first road win of the year. The frosh trio of Luke Rodriguez, Justin Lee, and Cal Randall combined to limit LMU to one run over a combined 7 1/3 innings, while freshmen Mulivai Levu and Roch Cholwosky accounted for all three of the team's RBIs in the contest. The Bruins opened the scoring and produced the game-winning run with a two-run fourth. Graduate closer Rashad Ruff went five-up, five-down to close out the game and earn his sixth save of the year.
- FRI โ UCLA allowed just three earned runs as a team, but ultimately dropped an 8-4 decision to Oregon in the opener. UCLA briefly led after scoring a pair to go up 2-1 in the third, but Oregon went ahead for good with a four-spot in the fourth. Caedon Kottinger and JonJon Vaughns were solid out of the bullpen for UCLA, holding the visitors to a single unearned run over 4 2/3 innings until Jeffery Heard created seperation with a two-run double with two outs in the ninth. UCLA had six hits on the night, including a solo homer from AJ Salgado and a triple from Payton Brennan.ย
- SAT โ Quintt Landis drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th to force in the winning run of a 4-3 walk-off result over Oregon. UCLA got the first two batters of the 10th aboard, as Cashel Dugger led off with a ground single up the middle before Payton Brennan reached when the Oregon pitcher slipped while fielding his sac bunt attempt. A walk loaded the bases before Landis's winner. UCLA built an early 3-1 lead after Roch Cholowsky provided an RBI hit-and-run double in the third and later scored on a wild pitch. Luke Rodriguez and Rashad Ruff were stellar out of the bullpen for UCLA, combining to allow just one hit while striking out seven over 4 2/3 innings.ย
- SUN โ Oregon clinched the rubber match with a 6-3 win on the strength of a five-run third. UCLA held Oregon to one run after that go-ahead rally, including 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball from the bullpen trio of Justin Lee, Caedon Kottinger, and Rashad Ruff. Jack Holman had a solo home run for the Bruins, and Duce Gourson provided an RBI single to highlight a two-run fifth. UCLA had chances in the late innings but couldn't convert. The Bruins got four baserunners aboard in the seventh, but a double play negated any potential damage. UCLA then got the first two batters aboard in the eighth, but stranded them both.
The Bruins are off to a strong start in home games so far this season, going 11-6 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA holds advantages in batting (.267-.253), OBP (.401-.359), slugging (.401-.359), and ERA (4.73-5.87).The Bruins went 19-9-1 at JRS a season ago, including a 13-game home winning streak to open the campaign. UCLA had a plus-63 run differential (207-144) in home games last year.ย
The All-Time Series Against the Wavesย ย ย
UCLA owns a 68-40-4 record in the all-time series against Pepperdine, including a 22-8 mark under head coach John Savage. The Bruins have accrued an 8-2 record in the last 10 meetings with the Waves, splitting the season series with Pepperdine in both 2022 and 2023.
Last Year Against Pepperdineย ย ย
UCLA split a home-and-home midweek series with Pepperdine last season:
Game 1 (Feb. 21, 2023 at UCLA) โ UCLA finished off an unbeaten first week of the 2023 season with an 11-2 win over Pepperdine. The Bruins scored seven runs in the first inning to establish control, a rally which was capped off by an opposite-field two-run homer from JonJon Vaughns. UCLA allowed a run in just two of nine defensive innings, answering back to score in the bottom half both times. Seven pitchers saw the mound for UCLA, as Chris Aldrich (six-up, six-down in 2 IP) earned the win and Michael Barnett (2 IP, 1 ER, 4 K) looked solid in his first collegiate start.ย
Game 2 (Apr. 11, 2023 at Pepperdine) โ UCLA totaled 15 hits and fought back to tie the game on four occasions, but dropped an 8-7 result at Pepperdine. The Waves answered back to re-take the lead in each of the four innings UCLA tied it, walking off in the ninth on a hit-and-run bloop single that scored a runner from first base. Four different Bruins had multiple hits, including career days from Malakhi Knight (4-5, three RBIs) and Josh Hahn (3-5, two runs).
Current Bruins Against Pepperdineย ย ย
Active Bruins with strong career numbers against Pepperdine include: Chris Aldrich (4 apps, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 0 BB, 7 K), Duce Gourson (.313/.450/.500, 3 2B, 3 RBIs in 4 GP), Jack Holman (3-9, 2 2B in 2 GP), Malakhi Knight (7-13, 3 R, 5 RBIs in 3 GP), and Daylen Reyes (5-13, 4 R, 3 RBIs in 3 GP).ย
Midweek Notesย ย ย
- UCLA is 37-13 in midweek contests since the start of 2019
- The Bruins are 4-2 so far this year in midweeks, defeating Nevada, LBSU, and UCSB at home, and LMU on the road
- In 2023, UCLA went 6-4 with wins coming against Pepperdine, Michigan, Long Beach State (2), LMU, and CS Fullerton
- The Bruins had two midweek games rained out last year, and have had one rained out so far this year
- Payton Brennan (.444/.524/.667), Duce Gourson (.545 SLG, five RBIs), and Cody Delvecchio (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 K) have been standouts in midweeks so far this year for the Bruins
- Last season, the Bruins outscored their midweek opponents 77-68 and outperformed them in several stats including OBP (.414-.350), ERA (4.83-6.52), and home runs (12-6)
- Standouts in midweek games last year included Malakhi Knight (.410 BA, 10 RBIs), Jarrod Hocking (.435/.606/.565), Darius Perry (.487 OBP), Luke Jewett (0.00 ERA, 10 K in 8.2 IP), and Charles Harrison (0.00 ERA, 10 K, 7 IP)
- The Bruins went undefeated in midweeks in 2019 (11-0) and 2021 (8-0)
- UCLA won seven straight midweeks from Mar. 1 to Apr. 19, 2022
UCLA enters the contest ranked in the upper-third nationally in the following team stats:
BB/9 - 3.95 (5th in the Pac-12 / 57th in the NCAA)
ERA - 4.88 (6th / 62nd)
WHIP - 1.48 (7th / 77th)
K-BB Ratio - 2.04 (5th / 90th)
Dependable Duceย ย ย
UCLA junior infielder Duce Gourson has been a constant presence on the basepaths this season, reaching in 26 of 28 games thus far (he was kept off in the final two games of the TCU series, but has reached in every other contest). His 24 walks rank fourth in the Pac-12, only two behind No. 2 Ryan Campos of ASU and Malcolm Moore of Stanford. However, he has not been walked in six of the last seven games after earning at least one base on balls in 15 of his first 21 outings.
Good Eyeย ย ย
So far this season, UCLA has issued more walks than its drawn just eight times in 29 games. The Bruins own a plus-32 walk differential overall on the season (146 drawn, 114 issued), good for third in the Pac-12, sixth among schools in the western half of the country, and 39th overall in the NCAA. UCLA is averaging 8.4 free passes (walks + hit batters) per game in wins this season, compared to 4.8 in losses.
Bullpen A Boonย ย ย
UCLA's bullpen has been a particular strength over the last couple weeks. Collectively, Bruin relievers have allowed two earned runs or fewer in six consecutive games, including standout efforts against LMU on Apr. 2 (6.2 IP, 1 R, 10 K) and games against Oregon on Saturday (4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 7 K) and Sunday (5.2 IP, 1 R, 5 K). Graduate closer Rashad Ruff has led the group, co-leading the nation with 19 appearances while locking down six saves, good for second in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally. With injuries forcing pitchers into more high-leverage roles, several have stood out over the last five games, including Luke Rodriguez (0.00 ERA in 5.2 IP), Ruff (1.80 ERA in 10 IP), Justin Lee (2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP), and Caedon Kottinger (0.00 ERA in 2.2 IP).ย
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