Sitting atop the Pac-10 standings, No. 18 UCLA (22-17, 8-1 Pac-10) will test itself against one of the best teams in the nation tonight at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins welcome third-place No. 12 Arizona (31-9, 9-3) for a weekend series starting tonight at 6 p.m.
“It is a very important conference series against a team that has played very well all season,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “That team has 30 wins; you can only count teams with 30 wins in the country on one hand. Arizona is a legit Pac-10 contender that offers great competition. I am looking forward to having big crowds out there this weekend supporting us.”
Staff ace and senior right-hander Tyson Brummett will take the mound for the Bruins tonight in search of his fourth consecutive victory in conference play. Coming into this weekend’s series, Brummett ranks eighth in earned run average, sixth in wins, second in innings pitched and fourth in strikeouts among conference pitchers.
The Bruins took two out of three games when the two teams met last year in Tucson, but it is clear that neither team is the same as it was last year.
“Our team is playing its best baseball in the last 17 games without question,” Savage said. “Their team has very much improved pitching.”
Brummett will have to be at his best when he opposes right-hander Preston Guilmet, the undefeated ace of the Arizona pitching staff. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper recently named Guilmet, who is among the leaders in every pitching category, the National Player of the Week for the second time this year.
“I have to take the same approach no matter who I face,” Brummett said. “But I would relate it to facing Miami (Fla.) or Cal State Fullerton because it is a bigger weekend. I definitely step up my competitive nature and become more focused.”
Savage has yet to decide on a Saturday starter. Freshman left-hander Gavin Brooks will be Sunday’s starter.
Although the series could determine the front-runner to take the conference title, Savage emphasized complete focus to his team.
“We are taking it one game at a time, one inning at a time,” he said. “We are not looking at the big picture and good teams take that same approach.”
On the offensive side, UCLA’s lineup has received a boost from third baseman Jermaine Curtis, totaling a 12-2 record ever since he returned to the field.
Second baseman Alden Carrithers hits behind Curtis atop the Bruins’ order, and the rest of the lineup has benefited from the good play of the duo.
“Both have been playing real well and getting on base,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “This has been letting Cody (Decker), who is also hot, and I drive them in and get runs up on the board early in ball games.”
Prior to Tuesday night’s loss at UC Riverside, the Bruins had won seven games in a row, and have now lost only three of their last 17 games. Despite recent success, the focus still remains on beating a rival team in hopes of coming a few steps closer toward capturing a league title.
“We know we can play against one of the best teams and beating one of the nation’s best is huge for our confidence,” Crawford said. “Winning the Pac-10 would be huge for our program. It is our goal this year, like every other year.”