Another week, another season high in the rankings.
After rising up three spots in this week’s D1Baseball poll, No. 12 UCLA baseball (22-9, 8-4 Pac-12) will take on Pepperdine (17-13, 6-6 WCC) in Malibu on Tuesday. Despite failing to complete the away sweep against Utah in Salt Lake City, the blue and gold has continued to climb in the poll after winning three of its last four games.
Beginning the season unranked, UCLA’s ascension in the poll comes after it tallied an eight-game winning streak that included a sweep of then-No. 21 Oregon. In its last six wins, UCLA came back to win by a one-run margin, after trailing by at least one run in each game. The streak ended in a series-ending loss to the Utes on Sunday.
“We’ve just got to get back to it on Tuesday,” said freshman shortstop Cody Schrier. “If a couple of pitches had gone our way (Sunday), then we would have won.”
In their last meeting with Pepperdine on Feb. 22, the Bruins blew a two-run lead heading into the ninth inning after the Waves hit a grand slam to make the score 6-3. The Bruin comeback came up short in the bottom of the ninth, and the Waves held on to a 7-5 decision.
“They’re another really good West Coast team,” said coach John Savage. “They’ve got good players, they’ve played a competitive schedule. But it’s really about our preparation, not so much who we’re playing or where we’re playing.”
On the mound for the Bruins in Tuesday’s rematch will be redshirt sophomore right-hander Kelly Austin. Logging a 2.79 ERA, Austin has started seven games for UCLA this season.
Austin was used as a reliever Friday and Sunday, tossing 3.1 innings over the weekend.
UCLA’s Tuesday trip to Malibu begins a stretch of mostly road games for the latter half of its schedule. The Bruins opened the year with nine consecutive home contests and did not play a true road game until Mar. 22. All but one of the remaining midweek games this season will be played away from Jackie Robinson Stadium.
“We play well on the road,” said sophomore infielder Daylen Reyes. “We’re prepared and ready. This team is capable of being comfortable wherever we play.”
First pitch in the rematch against Pepperdine is at 3:00 p.m.
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