MarkLA
Joined: 12/06/11 Posts: 2,850
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Posted Mon, May 27 11:53 am
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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https://uclabruins.com/news/2015/6/2/210124992.aspx
Frustrating, as I think they would have gone really far if they hadn't run into Maryland, which was a good team to start the year before limping into the regional. The Bruins had fantastic pitching, but unfortunately, as you said, it was too much of a LH dominant lineup at the plate.
Glad to see Garcia pitching well to pick up for the loss of Pettway. They may not have the same buzz as in 2015, but there sure seems to be a number of quality arms, which will be very valuable in the CWS. With a productive offense, I'm optimistic of this year's chances. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 1:25 pm
(Edited Fri, May 31 1:25 pm)
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Baylor's currently locked in a 1-1 pitcher's duel against LMU. But, the Bears chose not to start their #1 pitcher today. They're saving him for a presumptive Saturday start against UCLA. And he's a lefty.
Anyone having flashbacks to 2015 and the caravan of left-handed pitchers that Maryland threw at the Bruins?
Fortunately, the Bruin hitting is more balanced this year. But, Bears head coach Steve Rodriguez seems to think that going with the southpaw is Baylor's best chance against UCLA. Rodriguez led Pepperdine for 11 years, so he knows Savage and the Bruins very well.
Savage doesn't believe in changing the pitching order, so we know Ryan Garcia will get tonight's start against Omaha, and Jack Ralston will start on Saturday. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 1:38 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Pulling for LMU to pull this one out, since Baylor obviously swapped their pitching rotation to throw a lefty against UCLA tomorrow. The game was tied 1-1 until LMU scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the 6th. The Lions are still batting. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 2:42 pm
(Edited Fri, May 31 2:43 pm)
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Looking over the scoreboard, the #3 regional seeds are holding their own today. In Corvallis, one of the dark horse picks to advance, #2 Creighton, is getting crushed by #3 Michigan 6-0 in the 9th.
LMU brought in their closer with 2 out in the 8th after Baylor got a 2-out single. Game's now going into the bottom of the 9th with LMU still leading 3-1.
If Baylor gets an early exit from the Regional, this pitching move might be the big story. If they lose this game, it forces them to go 5-deep into the starting rotation just to advance out of the Regional. Staying in the winner's bracket means that a team could advance while playing only 3 games. For UCLA, that would be absolutely critical, since they realistically only have 4 starting pitchers available right now. Still no word on whether Mullen would be available as a #5 starter after his appendectormy a few weeks ago. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 2:52 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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LMU got the 3-1 win over Baylor. The Bears will have to play a 2pm PT elimination game on Saturday against the UCLA/Omaha loser.
All the more crucial for the Bruins to take care of business in their Regional opener. If they lose, then they will have a short turnaround for Saturday's game, since tonight's game is a 7pm PT start, and they will face Baylor's #1 pitcher. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 7:28 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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This is Bruin baseball. Omaha took the lead in a solo HR and the Bruins struck back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th. Two infield hits to load the bases and the Bruins tied the game on a sac fly. Then Mitchell got the 2-RBI single to put UCLA ahead.
Game's in the 6th with Garcia still in the game. It had been a scoreless pitcher's duel until the 5th. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 7:49 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Bruins seem to have figured out Omaha's starting pitcher Payton Kinney. He had the Bruins pinned down for 4 innings. He is a quality pitcher and his 1.65 ERA is no fluke.
But, the Bruins are starting to make solid contact, and they've now scored 2 more runs in the 6th. The Bruin lineup is just opportunistic and relentless. They put so much pressure on the opposition in different ways. The scoring sac fly in the 5th, UCLA moved everybody over one base, which put 2 runners in scoring position and they both scored on the next play.
Garcia has only thrown 64 pitches through 6 innings. He retired the side in the top of the 6th on only 5 pitches. UCLA probably won't have to go too deep into the bullpen tonight if Garcia continues to dominate. His only hiccup was the solo homer in the 4th. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 31 9:19 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Garcia was in control until he got into a little trouble in the 9th. Allowed a run, but Mora came in and got the final 2 outs.
Bruin bats were kept at bay most of the night, but they were opportunistic in their 5th and 6th inning rallies against the Omaha starter who was lights out through 4 innings.
UCLA plays LMU on Saturday night at 7pm. Baylor and Omaha have a 2pm elimination game on Saturday.
Important that the Bruins stay in the winner's bracket to save the starting pitchers. Ideally, the Bruins win the Regional in 3 games, and avoid having to put midweek starter Felix Rubi into an elimination game or worse, having a starter-by-committee situation in the if-necessary game on Monday. Without Mullen, the Bruins don't have a 5th starter available and Savage does not want to pull someone from the bullpen into the starting rotation. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, Jun 01 9:39 pm
(Edited Sat, Jun 01 9:41 pm)
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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Clutch hitting failed the Bruins tonight. Identical situations in the 7th. Bruins had runners in scoring position, and couldn't get the run across. LMU got the run across. That was the game.
UCLA now has to go 5 deep into the starting rotation in order to advance.
They'll first have to face Baylor, which erupted today against Omaha. Then, they'll have to come back against LMU again.
It can be done, but it will be a tall task even for this Bruin team. They haven't lost a weekend series all year, this would be a bad time to start. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, Jun 01 10:57 pm
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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UCLA and Stanford both got dropped into the elimination bracket today as regional hosts. OSU got eliminated today as a regional host, and Cal was the first out in their regional. ASU was the only Pac-12 team that won today, but they already fell into the elimination bracket yesterday. Every Pac-12 team left will be playing a potential elimination doubleheader tomorrow. Nobody can advance tomorrow. They can all be eliminated tomorrow. Not a good showing so far. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sun, Jun 02 10:36 am
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In response to Baseball: #1 UCLA v Omaha in LA Regional 7pm PT Friday (Woochifer)
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7 of the top 16 seeds are playing elimination games today before they can even reach the Regional final, including UCLA. Oregon State is already out. The regional hosts playing with 1 loss include #3-seed Georgia Tech and #5-seed East Carolina, both of whom lost earlier series against the Bruins.
ESPN's graphic yesterday showed that since the introduction of the Super Regional round, 81% of teams advancing out of the Regional round started 2-0. So, the odds are that over 1/3 of the seeded teams will be gone before the Super Regional. |
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