UCLA Baseball: Bruins Head Across Town to Face Trojans

UCLA exploded offensively for 13 runs against LMU on Tuesday.

Kevin Kendall was a beast at the plate on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)

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The Westwood Nine head across town this weekend for a three-game series against Southern Cal. First pitch for tonight’s game is set for 7 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.

Last Time Out

It was an all-staff kind of night for UCLA on Tuesday when they hosted Loyola Marymount for the second time this season.

Jake Brooks, who was making his first start of the season, only last 1-1/3 innings after he gave up five earned runs in his brief appearance.

Brooks gave up a double, an RBI single and a two-run homer in the first inning as UCLA fell behind 3-0 before even coming to the dish.

But the Bruins got it all back and then some in the bottom half of the inning. Kevin Kendall got the party started with a double down the right field line. He would later score on a sacrifice fly for UCLA’s first run of the game. After Kendall’s double, Matt McLain singled to keep things going. Mikey Perez reached on fielder’s choice and an error, giving the Bruins runners on first and second with two outs. Michael Curialle hit an RBI single which scored McLain and moved Perez to third, and Emanuel Dean tripled to left, scoring both Perez and Curialle to put UCLA ahead, 4-3. Kyle Karros reached on an error which scored Dean while Darius Perry walked.

That brought Kendall to the plate for the second time in the inning and he singled to load the bases. McLain followed and he took a 1-0 pitch down the left field line for a three-run double. After one full inning of play, UCLA lead 8-3.

After Brooks gave up another run in the second, John Savage had seen enough and he brought in Adrian Chaidez. Chaidez started off by giving up an RBI single, but the run was charged to Brooks. At that point, Chaidez was able to stop the bleeding and get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Dean hit an RBI single, allowing the Bruins to put up a breadstick and making it, 9-5.

Chaidez gave up a lead-off homer in the third along with a walk and his night was also over as Savage turned to sophomore Charles Harrison, who got three outs in a row for the Bruins.

UCLA added four more insurance runs in the third, but they didn’t need them as Bruin relievers were able to shut down the Lions for the remainder of the game with Jake Saum throwing two scoreless innings and Max Rajcic, Kyle Mora, Michael Townsend and Sean Mullen each throwing a scoreless inning to seal the win for the Bruins. The final was UCLA 13, LMU 6.

Chaidez got his first win of the year, despite pitching just 2/3 of an inning.

Southern Cal Trojans

This weekend, the Bruins will visit Southern Cal. The Trojans are currently in first place in the Pac-12 because they swept Washington last weekend when Pac-12 play started. Tonight, the Trojans send lefty Isaac Esquada against Zach Pettway in what looks to be an even matchup.

When these teams met just a few weeks ago in the Southern California College Baseball Classic, UCLA dominated their rivals. I think the Bruins will sweep this weekend, but don’t expect another 10-1 game.

UCLA wins tonight, 5-3, on the strength of a bullpen which will have another strong outing despite the fact that Savage used eight pitchers on Tuesday.

#10 UCLA Baseball (13-6, 2-1)

Opponent: Southern Cal Trojans (9-7, 3-0)
Where: Dedeaux Field, Los Angeles, CA

Media:

Live TV: Pac-12 Networks National and Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Wes Clements
Live Audio: uclabruins.com with Tim Wilhelm
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app

Friday

Game Time: 7:00 pm PT, Friday, March 26, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, Sr. (0-0, 2.89 ERA)
USC - Isaac Esqueda, LHP, Jr. (2-1, 2.43 ERA)

Saturday

Game Time: 6:00 pm PT, Saturday, March 27, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Jr. (3-1, 2.77 ERA)
USC - Chandler Champlain, RHP, So. (1-1, 5.16 ERA)

Sunday

Game Time: 4:00 pm PT, Sunday, March 28, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Jared Karros, RHP, So. (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
USC - Alex Cornwell, LHP, So. (3-1, 3.71 ERA)

Weekend Notes:

UCLA

This is your UCLA baseball vs. Southern Cal Trojans game one open thread.


Go Bruins! Beat $c!

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