Bruin Aces - Bauer & Cole - Getting National Recognition For Early Season Domination

Bruins are off to best start (13-0) in our program's history thanks to our two aces: Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. Both Cole and Bauer were instrumental in yet another phenomenal weekend for Bruin baseball team. They were recognized for their efforts nationally today as Collegiate Baseball, honored hem as National Players Of the Week. Bauer was also named as Pac-10 pitcher of the week. From the official site:

Both pitchers had sensational performances on back-to-back nights at the Whataburger College Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, over the weekend. Bauer and Cole each struck out 15 batters in their respective starts on Friday night and Saturday evening.

The No. 12-ranked Bruins finished the weekend with three victories, pushing their overall record to 13-0, the team's best start in the modern era (dating to 1955). UCLA's 13-game winning streak is the program's longest since winning 13 straight at the end of the 1969 season (prior to the Bruins' first-ever trip to the College World Series).

Cole improved to 4-0, recording a career-high 15 strikeouts to lead the Bruins past Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 11-3, in the team's first game at Whataburger Field. He allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits through a season-high 7.2 innings.

Bauer struck out a career-high 15 batters in eight-plus innings, pushing his record to 3-0. He took a shutout into the ninth inning before Mississippi State struck for two runs. In UCLA's 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs, Bauer scattered three hits and issued just two walks. He improved his record to 9-0 as a starting pitcher for the Bruins (12-3 overall). He was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week for the first time this season and the fourth time in his young career.

While Cole and Bauer had amazing week, I think we should also recognize the efforts of Rob Rasmussen. The left picked up his first win this season thanks to a gritty performance against the powerhouse Sooners on Sunday afternoon.

These guys are going to be busy with finals this week. Their next game is not till Friday, March 19, when we go up against Oral Roberts for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Game time on Friday is 6 p.m. The Bruins and Golden Eagles square off at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

If you live around Southern California, time to pack our home games. I think it would also be really cool if the Bruin Den can get the students energized to come out for these games in droves. We have something really special going on with these guys. Time for the entire Bruin Nation to get behind our team.

GO BRUINS.