It just doesn’t get any easier for the UCLA baseball team.
The Bruins (5-6) will continue their difficult non-conference
schedule tonight at Jackie Robinson Stadium at 6, beginning a
three-game series against the No. 9 Cal State Fullerton Titans
(5-4), who are just two years removed from winning the College
World Series. UCLA coach John Savage has repeatedly said an
integral part of the rebuilding process of his club is playing
elite teams who set a standard of excellence UCLA can emulate.
Perhaps nobody defines elite West Coast baseball like the Titans.
“They’re constantly a top-five program,” Bruins
coach John Savage said. “It’s going to be a challenge,
but it’s also a nice opportunity for our young guys to
grow.” The Bruins will have a chance to get back to .500 if
they can win two out of the three games from the Titans. Only
Friday’s game will be played at Jackie Robinson stadium, with
the other two games in Fullerton, marking the second time in the
young season the Bruins will be playing on the road. “I like
our chances a lot (of being .500),” junior pitcher Brian
Schroeder said. “We just need to be a little more clutch, and
we’ll be right where we want to be.” If the Bruins are
to take a series from the Titans, their bats will need to come
alive. In the last four games, the Bruins have scored only twelve
runs. “With our pitching and defense, we’re going to be
in a lot of games,” Savage said. “The season goes in
cycles. Right now, it’s our pitching that is strong, but the
offense will come around. We have some good offensive
players.” The left side of the UCLA infield has provided an
offensive spark of late. Freshman shortstop Brandon Crawford and
third baseman Jermaine Curtis have combined to go 13-35 with 3 RBIs
and 4 runs in their last four games, and Crawford is also in the
midst of a nine-game hitting streak. Curtis has appeared to claim
the starting third-base job, giving UCLA four starting freshman.
“They’ve got tremendous upside both defensively and
offensively,” Savage said. “They’re going to make
mistakes because they’re freshmen who are playing a lot, but
they’re always going to come ready to play.”
SPECIAL VISITORS: The Bruins hosted an exhibition game against
Waseda University of Tokyo on Thursday and came away with a 4-0
victory. Savage used nine different pitchers against Waseda, with
each pitcher throwing one inning in what was an unusual shutout.
The Bruin pitchers struck out ten hitters and allowed just three
hits . Junior outfielder Will Pennial tripled and had all four RBIs
for the Bruins, while freshman second baseman Eddie Murray went 2-3
and scored a run. Former USC coach and college baseball legend Rod
Dedeaux set up the exhibition. Dedeaux, who died in January, had a
close relationship with the Japanese baseball program and set up
games with Fullerton, USC and UCLA. “These games are just a
tribute to Rod Dedeaux,” Savage said.
HUFF’S STUFF: Junior pitcher David Huff was named national
player of the week by the publication Collegiate Baseball after his
15-strikeout, one-run performance against Pacific on Saturday.
“He just pitched exceptionally well,” Savage said.
“He had all four pitches. He was just on a different level.
He established himself as a legitimate Pac-10 starter.”