University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
#2 UCLA Concludes Regular Season at Oregon This Weekend
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday, May 22, 4:00pm PT
UCLA - James Kaprielian, RHP, Jr. (9-4, 1.94 ERA)
ORE - Cole Irvin, LHP, So. (2-4, 4.05 ERA)
Saturday, May 23, 7:00pm PT
UCLA - Grant Watson, LHP, Sr. (8-4, 2.02 ERA)
ORE - David Peterson, LHP, Fr. (4-6, 4.62 ERA)
Sunday, May 24, 12:00pm PT
UCLA - Hunter Virant, LHP, So. (0-1, 3.05 ERA)
ORE - Josh Graham, RHP, Jr. (4-1, 2.70 ERA)
UCLA CONCLUDES REGULAR SEASON AT OREGON
No. 2 UCLA (41-12, 21-6) will close out its regular season schedule with a three-game series at Oregon beginning on Friday, May 22 at 4:00pm PT. The Bruins have already clinched the Pac-12 Conference title and are one win away from securing the most conference wins in school history. UCLA holds the all-time series edge over the Ducks, 20-11, however Oregon took all three games last season in Los Angeles. During Head Coach John Savage’s tenure in Westwood, the two sides have split their 18 match-ups, nine wins apiece.
WATCH/LISTEN LIVE
This weekend’s games will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks where Thad Anderson (play-by-play) and JT Snow (color) will have the call. Additionally, the weekend will feature a live audio broadcast online, free of charge, at uclabruins.com. Tim Wilhelm and John Ramey will have the call live from PK Park. This season, fans can listen to all 56 games live via Bruins TV Audio & Video.
UCLA EARNS 11th CONFERENCE TITLE
With a series sweep of Arizona last weekend, the UCLA Bruins secured their 11th conference championship in school history. The Pac-12 title also marks the third conference crown in the past five seasons for Head Coach John Savage and the Bruins. Their current mark of 21 conference wins ties a school record with three games yet to be played. UCLA won 21 games in 2013, 1986 & 1979.
BRUINS QUEST FOR SERIES PERFECTION
This season, UCLA has been unbeatable in weekend series, posting a perfect 13-0 record. The Bruins will embark on their final weekend series of the season at Oregon this weekend, looking to make school history. If UCLA claims the final weekend series, it will be the first time in school history that a team has won every weekend series in a season.
NO-HITTER NETS KAPRIELIAN PAC-12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
UCLA junior right-handed pitcher James Kaprielian has been named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week for May 11-17, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Kaprielian combined with David Berg to throw UCLA’s first ever no-hitter on Friday night in a 1-0 shutout of Arizona in 10 innings. The Tustin, Calif. native pitched nine no-hit innings, recording a season-high tying 11 strikeouts and four walks, while totaling 113 pitches. The Pac-12’s strikeout leader struck out six batters over a stretch from the third to the seventh inning where he retired 14 consecutive Wildcats. Kaprielian has thrown 23.2 consecutive scoreless innings, not allowing a run in his last three starts. He also dropped his season ERA below two, to 1.94, and pushed his strikeout total to 105 for the season, the second consecutive season over 100 strikeouts for him.
NO-HITTER NOTES
James Kaprielian & David Berg’s combined no-hitter is believed to be the first in UCLA Baseball history. It is confirmed to be the first in the Bruins’ modern-era (since 1946). It also marked the first time that Arizona had been no-hit since April 17, 1970 (New Mexico’s Jim Kremmel). According to the NCAA, just UCLA and Lehigh have thrown extra-innings no-hitters since 2004. The 10-inning no-hitter is also the first extra innings no-hitter in the Pac-12 since 1978.
SCOUTING THE DUCKS
Oregon enters the weekend with an overall record of 35-22 and 14-13 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Ducks are currently sixth in the conference, but come in winners of seven in-a-row and eight of nine. Following a sweep at Utah last weekend, Oregon took down in-state rival Oregon State, 3-2, in 11 innings on Tuesday. At the plate, the Ducks, who are hitting .252 as a team, are led by Mitchell Tolman who is hitting .332 (8th in the Pac-12), three homeruns, 42 runs and 40 RBI. Tolman leads the team in average, hits, runs, extra-base hits and RBI. On the mound, the Ducks have the conference’s 7th best ERA at 3.71, led by a pair of relievers, Garrett Cleavinger (4-2, 1.75 ERA) and Stephen Nogosek (6-1, 1.82 ERA). Saturday’s starter, David Peterson, currently leads the team in strikeouts (72) and innings pitched (76.0).
MIDWEEK RECAP
The No. 2 UCLA Bruins totaled 13 runs on 18 hits to topple the UC Irvine Anteaters, 13-3, on Tuesday night at Anteater Ballpark. The Bruins finish the regular season 10-1 in midweek games and 2-0 against UC Irvine. Brett Stephens recorded a career-high tying four hits and Kevin Kramer went deep in the victory.
UCLA PITCHING NOTES
Head Coach John Savage has molded his pitching staff into one of the best in the nation yet again this season. The staff has a combined 2.09 ERA which is 1st in the Pac-12 and 1st in the nation among all Division I Collegiate teams. The Bruins allow just 7.01 hits per nine innings (3rd in the nation) and have posted a 3.81/1 strikeout to walk ratio (3rd in the nation). Among Pac-12 staffs, UCLA ranks 1st in strikeouts (465), 1st in opposing batting average (.216), 1st in least sacrifice-bunts allowed (26) and 2nd in least hits allowed (382). They’ve proven to be even better in conference play, recording a 1.78 staff ERA through 27 games.
UCLA HITTING NOTES
The UCLA offense has been equally as impressive as the pitching staff so far in 2015. The team has a combined .292 average, with a Pac-12 leading 123 doubles. The Bruins rank 1st in slugging percentage (.424), 1st in runs (330), 2nd in on base percentage (.376), 2nd in RBI (290), 2nd in hits (536) and 4th in batting average (.292) among Pac-12 teams. In conference play, the Bruins have a .285 average and have three batters hitting over .300 (Chatterton, Persico, Keck).
BERG THE RECORD BREAKER
Senior All-American closer David Berg has proven his dominance across his four-year career, and this season is no different. Berg has already broken the NCAA records for career appearances and career relief appearances and finds himelf on the verge of breaking the career saves (five from tying) record as well. For the season, Berg owns a 0.79 ERA (1st in the Pac-12, 3rd in the nation) with 12 saves (3rd in the Pac-12). The Covina native has allowed just one earned run in his last 23 appearances (34.1 IP). In Pac-12 Conference play, Berg has made 20 appearances, allowing one run while striking out 29 batters in 35.1 innings pitched. Over that span, Berg has racked up eight saves and four wins.
UCLA’s LEADING LEFTY CLIMBS RECORD BOOK
Grant Watson became UCLA Baseball’s winningest left-handed pitcher in school history on March 28, earning his 26th career win in a victory over Washington State. The Bakersfield, Calif. native passed Jim Parque (25) on the all-time list among left-handers. Watson has since recorded his 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th wins to move into second place in career wins among all UCLA pitchers. The Bruins’ all-time leader in career wins is Trevor Bauer, who amassed 34 wins in three seasons in Westwood. Watson passed Adam Plutko (29) for the second place position. Watson holds a career record of 30-18 with a 3.34 ERA and 226 strikeouts in 84 appearances (61 starts). His mark of 61 starts is the all-time career record in UCLA history.
BATTERS KAN’T KATCH KAPRIELIAN
Junior ‘ace’ right-handed pitcher James Kaprielian has been dominant for the Bruins. One season after leading the Pac-12 with 108 strikeouts, the Tustin, Calif. native is again leading the conference with 105 strikeouts through 14 starts. Of his 105 strikeouts, 40 have been caught looking (1st in the Pac-12), accounting for 38%. His strikeout total ranks him T-16th among all Division I Collegiate players. The right-hander has struck out eight or more batters seven times, including three double-digit strikeout performances. Kaprielian has also registered nine wins, which leads the Pac-12. The Beckman High School alumnus combined to throw UCLA’s first ever no-hitter on May 15 and has not allowed a run in three consecutive starts, spanning 23.2-straight scoreless innings.
BRETT STEPHENS CONTINUES STREAKING
UCLA sophomore outfielder Brett Stephens has been on a tear as of late for the Bruins offense. Stephens has reached base in 14 consecutive games, a team-high in that category. Over that 14 game stretch, Stephens has hit .391 with four doubles, a triple, 12 runs and 10 RBI. In addition, he has eight multi-hit games over that span, including four three-hit performances and a four-hit performance. Over his last five contests, Stephens is 13-for-26 (.500) with two doubles, a triple, six runs and six RBI.
UCLA IRON MEN
Chris Keck, Kevin Kramer, Ty Moore and Luke Persico have started all 53 games for the Bruins this season. Dating back to last season, Moore has started all 109 games in the past two seasons, Persico has started 107 games and Keck has started 87. (Kramer missed last season due to injury).
FAST START & SHUTDOWN BULLPEN KEY FOR UCLA
Getting the UCLA offense started early has been a key to the team’s success so far this season. Through 53 games, the Bruins have scored in the first inning 19 times, posting an 18-1 record in those games. Furthermore, when UCLA scores the game’s first run, the team is 29-3. The Bruins have been excellent maintaining late leads as well, thanks to a reliable back-end of the bullpen (Tucker Forbes, Grant Dyer and David Berg), posting a perfect 30-0 record when leading after six innings, 31-0 after seven and 34-0 after eight. From the sixth inning on, the Bruins have out-scored opponents, 163-63.
HEAD COACH JOHN SAVAGE
Through 10 seasons as UCLA’s head coach, John Savage has established the Bruins as a consistent national championship contender. Savage helped UCLA reach college baseball’s pinnacle in 2013, as the Bruins won their first-ever NCAA baseball title. Under his guidance, UCLA has advanced to the postseason in seven of the last nine seasons, hosting four consecutive NCAA Regionals from 2010 through 2013. Savage has begun his 11th season as UCLA’s head coach in 2015. He is currently the third longest-tenured head coach in UCLA baseball program history. UCLA has gone 349-254-1 under Savage the past 10 seasons. In seven trips to the postseason at UCLA, Savage has compiled a 32-14 record (.696 winning percentage), recording the most postseason victories of any head coach in program history. With Savage at the program’s helm, UCLA advanced to the College World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2013, and reached the best-of-three championship series in 2010 and 2013. UCLA defeated Mississippi State, two games to none, at the 2013 College World Series. In 2010, the Bruins advanced to the championship series for the first time in school history, falling two games to none to South Carolina. Savage’s strong work with UCLA’s program has been equally evident in player development and the MLB Draft. Over his 10 seasons in Westwood, UCLA has produced 69 draft selections. In addition, he has coached 10 players at UCLA that have competed in the major leagues. Savage is one of just five head coaches in college baseball history to have guided his team to a College World Series title, produced the first overall pick in the MLB Draft, and coached at least one Golden Spikes Award winner.
UCLA WIN TOTAL NOTES
With the team’s 21st Pac-12 win on Sunday, clinching the 11th conference title in school history, the Bruins tied a school record for conference wins, also set in 2013, 1986 and 1979. With 41 wins so far this season, Head Coach John Savage has now led UCLA to its fourth 40+ win season in his tenure with the program. Furthermore, the Bruins now stand two wins away from tying the school record for regular season wins, 43, set in 2010 when the Bruins went 43-13.
UCLA IN THE RANKINGS
The Bruins highest ranking in the current polls is from the Basball America poll and the D1Baseball.com poll which each have UCLA ranked No. 2. The Bruins rankings in the other polls are as follows: No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll, No. 3 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, No. 3 in the NCBWA poll and No. 5 in the Perfect Game USA poll. Additionally, the Bruins have the No. 2 RPI ranking and No. 11 strength of schedule (as ranked by www.warrennolan.com).
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