Fresh off its first conference win of the season, the UCLA
baseball team will play a nonconference game tonight against San
Diego at 6 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Known for their
offensive firepower, the Toreros (27-22-1, 13-11 WCC) are averaging
just over six runs a game, with four of their starters batting over
.300. Jordan Abruzzo leads the team with nine home runs and 40 RBI.
San Diego also boasts a solid pitching staff, led by starters Josh
Butler (2.80 ERA) and Justin Blaine (3.52 ERA), as well as closer
Matthew Falk (1.91 ERA). The Toreros are coming off a series win
over West Coast Conference foe San Francisco, taking the last two
games of the series after losing in 11 innings on Friday.
A MAINSTAY: Junior Chris Jensen got his first start of the year
April 15 against UC Santa Barbara and has not been out of the
lineup since then. After going 2-for-4 in that start, he has
maintained a blistering pace, batting .447 with three home runs,
second most on the team. Jensen originally started as a designated
hitter for an injured Hector Ambriz, but with Ambriz back in the
lineup, UCLA coach John Savage has put Jensen in right field to
ensure his bat stays in the lineup. Jensen redshirted last year and
in his first two playing years in Westwood, he started 35 games and
hit .281.
COMEBACK WIN: UCLA’s 4-2 win over Cal on Sunday was not
just the Bruins’ first win in Pac-10 play. It was also their
first win this season when trailing after seven innings. Before
Mike Metzger’s game-winning single, the Bruins had been 0-29
when trailing after seven innings. From the seventh inning on, the
Bruins have scored just 40 runs this year, 49 fewer than their
opponents.