#13 Baseball Series Opener vs. Oral Roberts Game Thread

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 5:47 PM PDT

We've previewed this weekend's Oral Roberts series and tonight at 6 pm PST it gets underway. Fact is, the Golden Eagles aren't so golden and the Bruins are the better team. This is baseball though, where the best of teams lose 30-40% of their games and UCLA, who has been excellent for a mere 13 games, hasn't proven over time to be one of the best teams yet. That means that they're always vulnerable to a loss, like everyone else is, so they have to show up ready to play tonight. Coming off of finals week and minimal time on the field just makes it more important for them to be 100% focused.

Being able to start a pitcher like Gerrit Cole helps when you're looking to stave off an upset bid. The sophomore right-hander will be on the mound for the Bruins tonight and carries a 4-0 record, 2.10 ERA and 41 strikeouts (second-best in the nation) into tonight's contest. Oral Roberts has yet to announce their starter for the game and with seven pitchers having made starts for ORU this year, there are plenty of options for them.

Tonight, the #13 Bruins will look to make it a perfect 14-0 start to the season. You can follow along with the game on GameTracker (link included) or you can listen live from the official site with John Ramey and color men, Danny Rees and Nick Theodorou. You can also grab updates from my UCLA baseball twitter. If you following along via any of the three ways listed, please use this thread to keep everyone apprised of what's going on in the game while chiming in with any thoughts, questions and opinions you have. The thread is all yours.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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1-0 ORU

A single then a double then a ground out scored a run for Oral Roberts in the 1st. #UCLA coming to the plate in the 1st.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:16 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

3-1 Bruins

Tyler Rahmatulla launched a 3-run homer waaaaay out to center after Dunlap doubled and Amaral singled. 3-1 #UCLA in the 1st.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:20 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

5-1 Bruins

A hit by pitch, 2 singles and an error on a squeeze bunt has scored the Bruins 2 more runs. 5-1 #UCLA with 2 men on, 1 out in the 1st.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Appreciate the updates!

GO BRUINS!

by Chris09 on Mar 19, 2010 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Pouring it on

Niko Gallego singled home another run & then with 2-out, Beau Amaral singled to drive in 2. Tyler Rahmatulla doubled home Amaral. 9-1 #UCLA.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:34 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

NICE!

ORU pulled their starter yet?

by Chris09 on Mar 19, 2010 6:37 PM PDT reply actions

Nope

We’ll see if he comes out for the 2nd.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

1st inning ends

The 1st inn. is finally over. 9 runs on 8 hits, 2 hit by pitches & 2 errors in an inning where 14 Bruins came to the plate. It’s 9-1 #UCLA .

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:41 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

WTF

9-1 after 1? I’m going to refrain from what I was going to ask because I don’t want to jinx it, but it referred to the rule you see at the little league world series every year.

by Tydides on Mar 19, 2010 6:48 PM PDT reply actions

10-1

Brett Krill hit a homer to center to lead off the 2nd inning. I don’t think finals slowed the #UCLA offense down. 10-1 now.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Finally

UCLA, leading 10-1, loaded the bases with nobody out in the 2nd before Oral Roberts mercifully pulled their starting pitcher.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:55 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

11-1

The ORU reliever came in and got a double play then a ground out. One more run scored to make it 11-1 #UCLA but well done by the pitcher.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 6:59 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Awesome

Thanks for the updates. Go Bruins!!!!

by bruinfan94 on Mar 19, 2010 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions

No mercy

Steve Rodriguez singled with the bases loaded to score 2 then Dean Espy drove one out to left for a 3-run homer. 16-1 #UCLA in the 3rd.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 7:19 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

We got another run thanks to an error in the 5th

We lead 17-1 now as we go to the 6th inning.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 7:52 PM PDT reply actions

Even the subs are getting into it

Cody Regis, who came in for Dean Espy, roped a doubles with the bases loaded to drive all 3 in. The UCLA lead is now 20-1 after 6 innings.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

20-1 is good

Rye, didn’t you write that offense was supposed to be the question mark going in this season? What has been the key so far? These guys are hitting everything.

Thanks for the updates!

greg in denver - UCLA guy for life

by gbruin on Mar 19, 2010 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I can take solace

in the fact that everyone said our offense was going to be a question mark. They have made us all look like idiots with the way they’ve hit this season.

They’re not striking out nearly as much as they did last season, which is huge. We struck out far too much in past seasons, which was made worse by the fact that we didn’t have a lot of power. Guys are putting the ball in play and that has forced defenses to make plays, which they haven’t sometimes so we get unearned runs. It has also gotten us some cheap hits with bloop singles fall in and things like that.

The guys have a very good approach at the plate with a definite idea of what they’re looking for and what they want to do. They’re looking for the right pitches, they’re taking the right pitches and are really battling at the plate. They’re forcing pitchers to throw a lot of pitches and the more pitches a guy throws, the more chances he has to make a mistake.

The work the guys put in in the offseason was amazing too. A lot of guys have come in much stronger than last season so their work in the weight room is evident. They put in a lot of time in the cages so they’re confident and have very compact swings without many holes. The coaches worked with them and the players were not only receptive to the coaching, but they put in time on top of the time with the coaches and it shows.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 19, 2010 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions