It can be easy to overlook a Tuesday nonconference matchup, especially when a team like the Bruins has its sights explicitly set on its first Big Ten title.
But a successful midweek contest can set the tone for the upcoming weekend.
Following two consecutive midweek losses, No. 14 UCLA baseball (32-11, 16-5 Big Ten) will face Loyola Marymount (23-21, 10-8 WCC) at Page Stadium in Westchester, Los Angeles, on Tuesday. When the Bruins and Lions faced off at Jackie Robinson Stadium on March 25, sophomore second baseman Cameron Kim delivered a walk-off RBI single for a 9-8 UCLA victory.
“It’s going to be good for us,” said sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky. “We played them close at our place and walked them off a few weeks ago. They have a really talented team.”
UCLA has recorded six of its 11 losses in April alone, including its first series loss of the season against then-No. 16 Oregon, which is two games back of the second-place Bruins in the conference standings. Entering last weekend amid a 4-6 slump, UCLA swept Penn State in Westwood for its 10th series win this season – and its first sweep since March 30.
“At the end of the day, our guys are resilient,” said coach John Savage. “They believe in what they’re doing, and we’re really treating each game the same.”
Leading the charge on offense, Cholowsky has continued to solidify his reputation as one of the nation’s premier players. The sophomore was named Perfect Game’s No. 1 college player eligible for the 2026 MLB Draft on Thursday, and his 181 wRC+ leads all qualified Power Four players, and his 4.82 WAR, per 643 Charts, leads the nation by .67 wins.
The Chandler, Arizona, local launched a home run in each game against the Nittany Lions, bringing his season tally to 16 – doubling his total from his 2024 freshman campaign and tying him for third most in the Big Ten.
“He’s been so invaluable in all phases – the leadership, the defense, the offense, the unselfishness,” Savage said. “He’s not scared of anything.”
Sophomore left fielder Dean West represents another member of UCLA’s No. 1 2023 recruiting class who has seemingly made huge strides in his second collegiate campaign. With five hits last weekend, West has recorded a base hit in 18 of his last 20 games and boasts a .335 batting average, ranking 20th in the Big Ten.
“He’s a fantastic player,” Savage said. “The strike zone discipline is really good. His swing and miss (rate) is very minor.”
With freshman right-hander CJ Bott slated to make his first collegiate start, Tuesday appears to be another bullpen game. Bott, who has a 5.21 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 19 frames this season, hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a single appearance or thrown more than 36 pitches in a single outing.
And a UCLA midweek starter hasn’t pitched into the fifth since sophomore right-hander Luke Rodriguez tossed five frames against Arizona State on Feb. 26.
The Lions will send right-hander Tanner Warady to the mound for just his second collegiate start. Despite making 11 appearances this season, Warady has tossed just 6.2 innings – posting a 16.20 ERA.
LMU, defeated in five of its last six midweek affairs, enters play following a series loss against St. Mary’s. Shortstop Cam Hassert holds a team-leading .354 batting average, while first baseman Beau Ankeney’s .632 slugging percentage ranks fourth best in the West Coast Conference.
Despite their struggles, the Lions’ lone midweek win came 15-5 over then-No. 13 UC Irvine, which defeated UCLA last week 5-3 at Anteater Ballpark.
“In past Tuesdays, we haven’t got the job done,” said freshman right-hander Easton Hawk. “But it’s a new Tuesday, and we have to get the job done for sure.”
Comments are closed.