For the UCLA baseball team, the weekend trip to Berkeley serves as an opportunity to prove that it merits a postseason berth. Not many expected the Bruins, who began the season as the top-ranked squad in all of collegiate baseball, to be in this position this late.
Now, with so much on the line, the final three-game series has become the most important of the season.
A recent stretch of five wins in the last seven games has increased the likelihood of obtaining that postseason bid. The Bruins (29-24, 11-10 Pac-10) have a chance to further enhance their RPI with a successful series outcome against No. 15 California (32-17-2, 11-10 Pac-10) at Evans Diamond in Berkeley.
“We have to win the series this weekend, and that’s the bottom line,” coach John Savage said following a loss to Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday. “I think we know that. We can certainly bounce back (from the loss).”
Playing against a team that is ranked higher in the RPI is beneficial for UCLA because a road-series win will improve the team’s resume. Both teams are also tied for third place in the tight Pac-10 standings and will be attempting to position themselves ahead of one another.
Junior left-handed pitcher Tim Murphy (4-6) will take the mound in the series opener today hoping to continue his strong recent play. Murphy pitched brilliantly in two appearances last week, earning him Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week accolades for the second time this season. In his last start against Washington State, Murphy hurled seven impressive innings, giving up only two hits and striking out eight. California will counter with junior right-hander Tyson Ross, who touts a solid 7-2 record.
Sophomore right-hander Charles Brewer (7-4) will oppose lefty Craig Bennigson on Saturday, and sophomore left-hander Gavin Brooks (6-2) will start for the Bruins in the series finale on Sunday.
Bruin pitchers will have their hands full with the Golden Bear offense, which is second only to Arizona State in team hitting. The pitching staff will be facing one of the premier hitters in the country in California junior first baseman David Cooper, who has been a consistent force all year. Cooper, who transferred to Berkeley from Cal State Fullerton two years ago, comes into the series hitting .370 and tied for the Pac-10 lead in home runs with 19.
“California is very good,” Savage said. “They are one of the upper-echelon teams in the conference that will be a regional team. They have a strong RPI and have been in the top 20, really, the entire year.”
The Bruin offensive attack has also been swinging the bats well, averaging just over seven runs per game in the last seven contests.
“We’re looking forward to this weekend,” outfielder Blair Dunlap said on Tuesday. “We swung the bats well (against Cal State Fullerton) and hopefully we can carry that momentum into the weekend.”
In its 12-8 loss on Tuesday at Fullerton, the UCLA defense committed four errors which led to five unearned runs. The Bruins, who beat the Golden Bears twice at Jackie Robinson Stadium last season, hope to limit mistakes in every aspect of the game. Blunders against a quality team, in arguably the most pressure-filled period of the season, may be tough to overcome. But Savage believes his ball club will be prepared.
“They are going to be a strong opponent,” Savage said. “We’re going to have to go in there and pitch well, play defense and swing the bats. We’ll be ready to play this weekend.”