UCLA Baseball Heads to the Palouse

The Bruins will play a three-game series against the Washington State Cougars this weekend.

Jesse Bergin gave up three runs in the first inning Sunday against Oregon State and took the loss. (Photo Credit: Ross Turteltaub/uclabruins.com)

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After winning the first two games against Oregon State last weekend, the UCLA baseball team could not complete the sweep on Sunday and dropped the series finale, 5-3. Now, the Bruins head out onto the road for a three-game series against the Washington State Cougars. UCLA is in fifth place right now, three games behind the conference leading Arizona Wildcats. Washington State is in eighth, three games behind the Bruins. A series sweep this weekend would be a big help to UCLA.

First pitch for tonight’s game is scheduled for 6 pm PT and the game will be livestreamed but there is no audio this weekend.

Last Time Out

Jesse Bergin gave up three runs on three RBI singles in the first inning on Sunday before the Bruins could even come to bat and that was pretty much the ballgame.

Sure, UCLA got a two-run homer from JT Schwartz in the bottom half of the inning, but the Beavers held onto the lead.

Oregon State got an insurance run on a solo homer by Greg Fuchs and that proved to be the game-winning hit for the Beavers.

The Bruins got another run when Kyle Karros hit a solo homer in the fifth, but that was all the offense UCLA could muster.

UCLA allowed an unearned run in the eighth and the final score was 5-3, OSU.

Washington State Cougars

It’s been a rough conference season for the Cougs, but Washington State has taken two of three against their last two conference opponents, UC Berkeley and Oregon. So, they are on a bit of a roll.

The difference will probably come down to pitching, especially tonight. Washington State sends junior righty Brandon White to the hill and he has a bad 5.26 ERA. Sure, Zach Pettway hasn’t won many ballgames for the Bruins, but you have to like the team’s chances when your starter’s ERA is a run and a half lower than the opposing pitcher.

Tomorrow, Sean Mullen will go for the Bruins while Washington State’s starter will be junior righty Zane Mills. Again, Mills’ ERA is a full run higher than Mullen’s.

So, I like UCLA chances to take two of three on the road this weekend from the Cougs.

#25 UCLA Baseball (25-14, 12-9)

Opponent: Washington State Cougars (22-17, 9-12)
Where: Bailey-Brayton Field, Pullman, WA

Media:

Live TV/Audio: None
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app

Friday

Game Time: 6:00 pm PT, Friday, April 30, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Probable Pitchers:
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, Sr. (1-3, 3.71 ERA)
WSU - Brandon White, RHP, Jr. (5-3, 5.26 ERA)

Saturday

Game Time: 2:00 pm PT, Saturday, May 1, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Probable Pitchers:
UCLA - Sean Mullen, RHP, Jr. (8-1, 2.45 ERA)
WSU - Zane Mills, RHP, Jr. (5-3, 3.51 ERA)

Sunday

Game Time: 1:00 pm PT, Sunday, May 2, 2021
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Probable Pitchers:
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Jr. (4-3, 3.86 ERA)
WSU - TBA

Weekend Notes:

UCLA
Washington State

This is your UCLA baseball vs. Washington State game one open thread.


Go Bruins!