California Golden Bears Athletics
Thursday, April 18
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
California
at
UCLA
Third baseman Quentin Selma is providing pop at the bottom of Cal's batting order.
Photo by: Rob Edwards/klcfotos
Bears Bring Momentum Into Series With No. 1 UCLA
4/17/2019 7:18 PM | Baseball
Cal Has Won Eight Of Its Past Nine Entering Series In Los Angeles
The Bears hit the road for the second consecutive weekend, playing a three-game series against top-ranked UCLA that begins Thursday night. Cal took two of three from Arizona in Tucson last weekend and has won eight of its past nine games overall. It's a quick turnaround schedule-wise as the Bears flew home from the desert Sunday night, spent two days in Berkeley and hopped back on a plane Wednesday afternoon for the trip to Los Angeles to face the Bruins. The Pac-12 Network will broadcast the games Thursday and Friday night, both starting at 7 p.m., and Saturday's 2 p.m. finale can be heard on KALX radio 90.7 FM, online at kalx.berkeley.edu/live-streaming and on TuneIn Radio.
Cal last faced a No. 1-ranked team last season, when it dropped three games to Oregon State on March 16-18 at Evans Diamond. The Bears have played two opponents ranked in the top 10 so far this season, winning one of three at then-No. 10 LSU and taking one of three at then-No. 7 Oregon State (those rankings via Baseball America). Those are the only two ranked opponents Cal has played so far in 2019.
The Bears are one of the top power-hitting teams in the Pac-12, ranking second in the conference in homers (42) and third in slugging percentage (.462). But the improvement has come on the mound recently, with Cal sporting the Pac-12's fourth-best ERA at 3.93. Junior right-hander Jared Horn, scheduled to start Friday, has been a boost to the pitching staff after missing the first month due to an appendectomy. Horn has won each of his past two starts, completing eight innings in each and allowing just three earned runs with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday, April 18
Cal: LHP Arman Sabouri (2-2, 2.56)
UCLA: RHP Zach Pettway (2-2, 3.81)
Friday, April 19
Cal: RHP Jared Horn (2-1, 2.03 )
UCLA: RHP Ryan Garcia (4-0, 1.32)
Saturday, April 20:
Cal: TBA
UCLA: RHP Jack Ralston (5-0, 3.20)
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Last meeting: Cal emerged with two wins in three tries over a Bruins team that was ranked 15th in the country last season.
UCLA 2018 Record: 38-21, 19-11 Pac-12
• With a victory over Pepperdine on Monday, UCLA ran its winning streak to a season-high seven games.
• UCLA owns a .279 team batting average entering the series, led by Jack Stronach at .369. Michael Toglia has emerged as the Bruins' leader when it comes to run production, leading the team with six home runs and 37 RBI.
• UCLA sports a conference-best 2.62 team ERA. The starting trio of Zach Pettway, Jack Ralston and Ryan Garcia continues to set the tone for the Bruins, producing some of the best numbers in the nation. Garcia ranks second in the conference with a 1.30 ERA while Pettway ranks fourth in strikeouts with 58. Holden Powell is UCLA's top option at the back of the bullpen and ranks first in the Pac-12 in saves with 11.
NEXT UP
The Bears will return home and begin a five-game homestand Tuesday night against Sacramento State.
Cal last faced a No. 1-ranked team last season, when it dropped three games to Oregon State on March 16-18 at Evans Diamond. The Bears have played two opponents ranked in the top 10 so far this season, winning one of three at then-No. 10 LSU and taking one of three at then-No. 7 Oregon State (those rankings via Baseball America). Those are the only two ranked opponents Cal has played so far in 2019.
The Bears are one of the top power-hitting teams in the Pac-12, ranking second in the conference in homers (42) and third in slugging percentage (.462). But the improvement has come on the mound recently, with Cal sporting the Pac-12's fourth-best ERA at 3.93. Junior right-hander Jared Horn, scheduled to start Friday, has been a boost to the pitching staff after missing the first month due to an appendectomy. Horn has won each of his past two starts, completing eight innings in each and allowing just three earned runs with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday, April 18
Cal: LHP Arman Sabouri (2-2, 2.56)
UCLA: RHP Zach Pettway (2-2, 3.81)
Friday, April 19
Cal: RHP Jared Horn (2-1, 2.03 )
UCLA: RHP Ryan Garcia (4-0, 1.32)
Saturday, April 20:
Cal: TBA
UCLA: RHP Jack Ralston (5-0, 3.20)
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Last meeting: Cal emerged with two wins in three tries over a Bruins team that was ranked 15th in the country last season.
UCLA 2018 Record: 38-21, 19-11 Pac-12
• With a victory over Pepperdine on Monday, UCLA ran its winning streak to a season-high seven games.
• UCLA owns a .279 team batting average entering the series, led by Jack Stronach at .369. Michael Toglia has emerged as the Bruins' leader when it comes to run production, leading the team with six home runs and 37 RBI.
• UCLA sports a conference-best 2.62 team ERA. The starting trio of Zach Pettway, Jack Ralston and Ryan Garcia continues to set the tone for the Bruins, producing some of the best numbers in the nation. Garcia ranks second in the conference with a 1.30 ERA while Pettway ranks fourth in strikeouts with 58. Holden Powell is UCLA's top option at the back of the bullpen and ranks first in the Pac-12 in saves with 11.
NEXT UP
The Bears will return home and begin a five-game homestand Tuesday night against Sacramento State.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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