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UCLA v. Cal Poly: LA Regional’s Second Round NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview/Open Thread

Preview and open thread for UCLA’s second round game against Cal Poly Mustangs in the LA Regional of 2013 NCAA baseball tournament.

By Nestor
David Berg extended his single-season UCLA saves record to 19 with his save last night.
David Berg extended his single-season UCLA saves record to 19 with his save last night.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Our Bruins (40-17) started the LA regional on a nice note with a 5-3 win over San Diego Aztecs. They will look to keep moving tonight against Cal Poly (40-17) as the "visiting team" at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Mustangs had an impressive opening at the Regional with a 9-2 thrashing of San Diego.

As the case has been on Saturdays for last couple of years junior right-hander Nick Vander Tuig (10-4, 2.30 ERA) is going to get the call for our Bruins. The best pitcher in Coach Savage's starting rotation (at least in terms of numbers) and member of the First-Team All Pac-12 has struck out a team-leading 74 batters with just 14 walks. Nick is going up against Cal Poly southpaw Matt Imhof (7-3, 2.52 ERA) who has had a pretty impressive season as a sophomore. The Mission San Jose High School graduate has struck out 90 batters in 96 1/3 innings.

Some notes of interest heading into this evening's first pitch (6 pm PST):

  • UCLA holds a 19-7 advantage in its series against Cal Poly. The two teams last met in a series hampered by rain in 2011 at Baggett Stadium. The Mustangs and Bruins split a Monday doubleheader, with Cal Poly winning the opener 2-1 and UCLA taking the nightcap 8-0.
  • The Mustangs' 9-2 win over San Diego yesterday afternoon was their first-ever Division I regional playoff victory Friday afternoon
  • UCLA has now reached the 40-win plateau for the third time in the last four years and for the ninth time in program history.
  • Cody Regis became UCLA's all-time leader in career postseason games played, now playing in 25 all-time postseason games.
  • David Berg extended his single-season UCLA saves record to 19 with his save last night.
  • Since the start of the 2010 season, UCLA has won 102 of 142 games and the Bruins are 25-9 at Jackie Robinson Stadium this year.

You can read more on the Mustangs in Ryan's regional preview and also the Mustangs' official site notes here.

First pitch is scheduled for approximately 6pm Pacific time. Live stats will be available as usual via Gametracker, and an audio broadcast is available here via the official site. Tonight's game will not be televised, but ESPN will be streaming the game online through ESPN3.com.

This is your open thread for tonight's NCAA Baseball Tournament opener.

GO BRUINS.

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