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The USA Baseball-Irish Classic has one marquee game: UCLA vs. NC State. There are other big name schools and some pretty good talent, but the Bruins and Wolfpack are both top 20 teams who met in the College World Series last season. This is the big one.
The Bruins will send Grant Watson to the mound hoping he can turn in a performance half as good as James Kaprielian last night. Kaprielian allowed just one hit in eight scoreless innings as the Bruins beat Notre Dame 2-1 and now Watson, the steady junior, will hope he can replicate it. Watson was great in his first start of the season, but got roughed up next week so he has to straighten things out against a good NC State offense.
The Wolfpack will counter with Carlos Rodon, the best pitcher in the country. He will be a top five pick in the draft and the UCLA offense, which mustered just two hits yesterday, will have its work cut out for it.
Luckily for us, John Ramey made the trip back east so you can listen along with him. You can also follow along on my UCLA baseball Twitter and on Gamecast. This is your open thread so fill it with updates, thoughts and whatever else you have as UCLA tries to upend the No. 6 team in the country.