MOHAMMAD ALAVI Junior pitcher Josh Karp
unleashes the ball against UNLV in a game last week. The Bruins
will face USC in a game of dueling pitchers.
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff
A marquee pitching matchup and a crosstown rivalry should make
for an entertaining weekend when USC faces UCLA at Jackie Robinson
Stadium.
The Trojans (6-1) come to Westwood well-rested after their
midweek game against Pepperdine was rained out. UCLA (7-2),
conversely, may be a bit worn down after using eight pitchers in
Wednesday’s game against UCSB.
But the Bruins sport a seven-game winning streak and are
confident, yet respectful of their match up against the No. 1 team
in the nation.
“We’ve been preparing all year for this
series,” Head Coach Gary Adams said. “They have
pitchers like we haven’t seen all year. We just have to play
solid baseball.”
Trojan pitchers Rik Currier and Mark Prior are two of the best
in the nation. Currier is currently in third place on USC’s
all-time career list with 343 strikeouts.
Prior is projected to be a top-five major-league draft pick this
year. Earlier this year against Louisville, Prior allowed three
hits in five innings of work, striking out 10 batters while not
allowing a walk or run. In his following start against Long Beach
State, Prior again recorded 10 strikeouts, throwing 7 1/3 innings
of two-run ball.
Friday night’s contest is expected to be one of the better
pitching duels in the nation this year, when Prior and UCLA ace
Josh Karp square off.
“(Prior) is a great pitcher and it’s going to be a
great battle,” center fielder Matt Pearl said. “We just
have to hope he makes some mistakes, stay ahead in the count and
make him play our game.”
So far this year, Prior has a 1.35 ERA. In 13 1/3 innings,
he’s allowed just eight hits and two walks while striking out
22.
“He’s the man and I’m the underdog,”
Karp said. “The pressure’s on him. I’m at home,
have my defense behind me and our hitters fighting for
me.”
The Bruin hitters have put up an average of 9.4 runs per game,
with six of those games in double digits.
The Trojans are equally dangerous with the bats, putting up 9.6
runs per game. They are coming off their first loss of the season,
a 9-5 defeat at the hands of Long Beach State.
“They are going to be our toughest competition so
far,” UCLA catcher Josh Arhart said. “This weekend will
show what we’re made of.”
Karp will get the start in Friday’s key matchup, followed
by Jon Brandt Saturday at 1 p.m and Bobby Roe Sunday at 1 p.m.
Bruin pitchers have been sensational to date, allowing just 3.86
earned runs per game while compiling a nearly two-to-one
strikeout-to-walk ratio. The bullpen has an eight-game scoreless
streak on the line, but will need the starters to go as deep into
all three games as possible.
Friday’s game could dictate how the rest of the weekend
goes for the Bruins. A successful weekend could draw national
attention; something UCLA, with no rank, has not had all year.