This weekend, the UCLA Bruins will co-host the Southern California College Baseball Classic with crosstown rival Southern Cal, though UCLA appears to be losing the first two words of the title after using it last year. Of course, this is the event that was originally called the Dodgertown College Baseball Classic and, later, the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic.

In addition to UCLA and Southern Cal, this year’s event features Pepperdine and Cal State Fullerton. While both teams have won NCAA Baseball titles, both Pepperdine and CSUF come into this weekend with losing records.

Last Time Out

On Tuesday night, the Bruin bats finally came alive as UCLA crushed Cal State Fullerton, 14-1. While the Bruin offense is the big story from Tuesday’s game because UCLA had struggled at the plate so far this season, I can’t overlook the fact that the Bruins got another solid start out of Sean Mullen. This time, he threw five innings and allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five. For the second straight start, he did not allow an earned run. That lowers his ERA to just 0.63 for the season. The only blemish is the fact that he allowed one unearned run.

UCLA got the hit parade going in the bottom of the first when Kevin Kendall tripled to lead off the inning. Not to be outdone, Jack Filby followed with a two-run homer to right center. At that point, thanks to Mullen and the bullpen, the game was effectively over.

Noah Cardenas led off the second with a single. he advanced to second on a bunt by Kyle Karros and he move over to third on a fly out by Mikey Perez. That brought Kendall up for the second time in two innings. He was hit by a pitch and stole second. Filby drew a walk on a wild pitch which scored Cardenas and moved Kendall to third. Matt McLain hit a fly ball to left that looked like it would be the third out, but it was dropped. Both Kendall and Filby scored on the error and the Bruins led 5-0. Josh Hahn hit an infield single which advanced McLain to third. McLain then scored on an RBI single by Michael Curialle.

In the third, Karros drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a double by Perez. Karros then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kendall to make it 7-0, UCLA. It also moved Perez to third. A wild pitch from Titus Groeneweg let Perez scamper home and score.

Josh Hahn led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to right, giving the Bruins a 9-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Titans finally got on the board following a one-out walk by Mullen. A throwing error gave Cal State Fullerton runners on second and third with just one out. With a comfortable 9-0 lead, UCLA allowed the run to score on a grounder to Karros at third. The top half of the inning, and Mullen’s night, ended after he picked off a runner at third.

In the bottom half of the inning, UCLA got that run back along with four more to give UCLA a 14-1 edge.

Jake Saum, Jake Brooks and Charles Harrison combined for four scoreless relief innings to shut the door on the Titans and the Bruins went home very happy.

Southern California College Baseball Classic

Media:

TV: None
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Audio: uclabruins.com with Tim Wilhelm

Friday

Teams: #9 UCLA Baseball (5-3) vs. Pepperdine (1-6)
Game Time: 5:00 pm PT, Friday, March 5, 2021
Where: Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Zach Pettway, RHP, Sr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
PEPP - Trevor Hinkel, RHP, RSo. (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

Saturday

Teams: #9 UCLA Baseball (5-3) vs. Cal State Fullerton (3-4)
Game Time: 2:00 pm PT, Saturday, March 6, 2021
Where: Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Jesse Bergin, RHP, Jr. (1-1, 2.79 ERA)
CSF - TBD

Sunday

Teams: #9 UCLA Baseball (5-3) vs. Southern Cal (3-3)
Game Time: 1:00 pm PT, Sunday, March 7, 2021
Where: Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Projected Pitching Matchup:
UCLA - Nick Nastrini, RHP, Jr. (1-0, 2.19 ERA)
USC - Alex Cornwell, LHP, RSo. (1-0, 4.66 ERA)

Weekend Notes:

UCLA

This is your Southern California College Baseball Classic game one open thread.


Go Bruins!

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