Jackie Robinson Stadium was buzzing Friday evening, with a season-high 2,041 fans on hand to see UCLA baseball jump out to an early lead in its series opener against USC. Read more...

Photo: The Bruins and the Trojans split two close games, but nine runs Sunday clinched the weekend for USC. (Kathy Chen/Daily Bruin)

It seems rather fitting that the do-or-die series for UCLA baseball’s season would come against crosstown rival USC. The Bruins (23-23, 10-11 Pac-12) enter their annual three-game series against the Trojans with an RPI of 75. Read more...

Photo: After rolling his ankle Tuesday night against Pepperdine, Sean Bouchard is questionable for the weekend series against USC. The sophomore first baseman has the highest slugging percentage on the team. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)

This post was updated May 10 at 10:23 p.m. UCLA baseball couldn’t find a way to take control Tuesday night, dropping a close one to Pepperdine. Read more...

Photo: First baseman Sean Bouchard hit a shot to right center in the third inning, but it wasn’t enough for a home run. The junior legged out a triple, but rolled his ankle as he approached third base. He needed assistance off the field. (Kathy Chen/Daily Bruin)

Tuesday games aren’t supposed to be this important. But with UCLA baseball looking for a spot in a 64-team NCAA Tournament with an RPI ranking of 68, every one of the 11 games left in the Bruins’ schedule are going to count. Read more...

Photo: As UCLA baseball closes out the final 11 games of their season, they are on the cusp of a playoff bid. But with an RPI ranking of 68, UCLA currently sits on the outside looking in for the 64-team NCAA tournament. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)

Coach John Savage called this weekend’s starting pitching contagious. “Watching Griff (Canning) kind of inspires me,” said junior starter Grant Dyer. “And then hopefully Kyle (Molnar) can learn a little bit from me.” UCLA baseball (23-22, 10-11 Pac-12) took two out of three from UC Irvine (26-19, 7-8 Big West) thanks to its starters. Read more...

Photo: Junior starter Grant Dyer held the Anteaters to one run on four hits Saturday, the second of three dominant starting pitching performances from the Bruins. (Mackenzie Possee/Daily Bruin)

The baseball rivalry between UCLA and UC Irvine has traditionally been one of the best on the West Coast. From 2007 to 2015, the two teams combined for five College World Series appearances and 13 NCAA Tournament berths. Read more...

Photo: UCLA baseball is on the bubble entering this weekend’s series with UC Irvine. The Bruins have an RPI of 83. (Daniel Alcazar/Photo Editor)

There were plenty of scouts on hand behind home plate, radar guns raised, to witness UCLA baseball’s sweep of Oregon a couple weeks ago. That was a function not only of the marquee pitching matchups on display that weekend, but also the general lack of premier talent across West Coast college baseball. Read more...

Photo: Junior designated hitter Kort Peterson and the Bruins have an RPI of No. 73 in the nation, partly due to their .500 record and the weakness of West Coast college baseball this season. (Mackenzie Possee/Daily Bruin)