After shutting out the Spartans 5 zip yesterday, and scoring at will Friday (14-2), UCLA baseball is hitting on all cylinders as it heads to sweep the series against Michigan State this afternoon, weather permitting (yes rain is in the forecast as I write). IslandBruin2 has been providing amazing coverage of this years team, and you can read his full preview of this series here.
IB2 isn't the only one keeping a close eye on these Bruins, however. According New York Times writer Kendall Rogers, Coach Savage must be sprinkling holy water on UCLA's batters:
Savage’s Bruins are doing some filthy things offensively so far this season. UCLA improved to 8-1 on the year with a 14-2 win against Michigan State. The Bruins were an absolute nightmare atop the offensive lineup, as the foursome of Kevin Kramer, Luke Persico, Ty Moore and Chris Keck combined to go 9-for-15 with Keck and Kramer each hitting a home run. Meanwhile, on the mound, righthander James Kaprielian struck out eight and allowed just two runs in seven innings.
UCLA finished 2014 with a .252 team batting average. So far this year for this squad? The Bruins are sitting pretty with a .329 clip.
and the pitching has been mighty good as well! From the official site:
The UCLA pitching staff was excellent yet again today, combining to shutout the Spartans while striking out five and allowing just five hits. Beginning with two outs in the fifth inning, and lasting through the eighth, Watson and Grant Dyer combined to set down 10-straight Michigan State batters. Dyer and David Berg each pitched scoreless innings of relief to hold the victory for Watson.
Over the past three games, the UCLA pitching staff has allowed just two runs, resulting in a 0.67 ERA. Over that three-game span, the Bruin staff has struck out 26 batters and walked just two.
Today, right hander junior, Cody Poteet, (2-0, 1.64 ERA) is expected to start against the Spartans Anthony Misiewicz (1-0, 0.82 ERA). You can listen live at uclabruins.com and keep up with the stats here. (After all baseball is the best stat sport there is!)
It should be a fun day at JRS, especially if it doesn't rain, so I hope some of you will be able to make it out there to cheer on this special team. If not, next weekend will be epic for the #7 Bruins as they battle #1 Vanderbilt and #1 TCU at JRS, followed by unranked Southern Cal at Dodger stadium. Okay, I know there can only be one number one, but as IE has taught, CBB has four ranking systems, so yes, next weekend we play two number ones on back-to-back days.
One more fun stat. This year the Bruins are averaging 9.6 runs per game. This is a fun team to watch.
Have a great Sunday, and as always...
Go Bruins!