There is no missing sophomore Cody Decker’s routine as he steps into the batter’s box. The Santa Monica native shakes the bat back and forth and kicks up his legs before facing the pitcher.
There is also no missing the team-leading 12 home runs or the team-best 47 RBIs he’s recorded after getting in the batter’s box.
No. 21 UCLA (27-19, 12-3 Pac-10), who plays at No. 17 Pepperdine today, has been helped out in a big way by Decker.
Traditionally a catcher, Decker has spent time as a designated hitter and a first baseman and has taken advantage of the increased number of at-bats he has seen this season.
He had 63 at-bats the entire 2006 season and kept a .302 batting average. After the series against California this past weekend, Decker has more than doubled his at-bats from last season with 131 and increased his production in almost all categories.
His two home runs on Saturday were an exclamation point on the Bruins’ win that clinched the series. Today, Decker and the Bruins go for a season sweep against the Waves (31-16). The two teams met once before, playing at Jackie Robinson Stadium with UCLA bringing home a 6-2 win.
“They’re a good overall team,” UCLA sophomore Tim Murphy said. “They’re going to be a regional team. We gotta treat it like a Pac-10 game, or a weekend series, and we’d like to win on the road.”
Left fielder Justin Uribe went 2-3 with two RBIs in the first meeting, and third baseman Jermaine Curtis also had a multi-hit game, going 2-3 with one RBI.
Freshman Garett Claypool (2-0) got his first collegiate win, throwing five scoreless innings, and will face the same lineup in the Bruins’ final Tuesday game.
“You gotta beat the top of their lineup,” said catcher Ryan Babineau, who was behind the plate in the first game. “If you contain their first four or five guys, you got a good shot to win.”
The game time is set for 3 p.m. because Pepperdine’s stadium does not have lights. Taking the mound for the Waves will be former Bruin Robert Dickmann.
With UCLA close to its immediate goal of winning the Pac-10, a lot of attention outside the dugout is on the weekend series against second-place Arizona State. Inside the dugout, coach John Savage has his players focused on today’s game as more than a tune-up for the weekend.
“It’s very important, regardless of Arizona State,” Babineau said. “It is non-conference, but it’s a crucial game in that they’re highly ranked and have a good RPI.”
Returning Bruins will remember Malibu for the postseason. The last time UCLA was at Pepperdine was a year ago for regional play. With UCLA expected to make another regional appearance, the team’s final meeting against a ranked non-conference opponent could have an effect on the Bruins’ RPI.
“RPI-wise, you’re facing a top-20 team on the road, so it’s an important game for us,” Savage said. “We need to come out and play well.”