Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Baseball: Baseball set to face San Diego

Fresh off its first conference win of the season, the UCLA baseball team will play a nonconference game tonight against San Diego at 6 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Known for their offensive firepower, the Toreros (27-22-1, 13-11 WCC) are averaging just over six runs a game, with four of their starters batting over .300. Jordan Abruzzo leads the team with nine home runs and 40 RBI. San Diego also boasts a solid pitching staff, led by starters Josh Butler (2.80 ERA) and Justin Blaine (3.52 ERA), as well as closer Matthew Falk (1.91 ERA). The Toreros are coming off a series win over West Coast Conference foe San Francisco, taking the last two games of the series after losing in 11 innings on Friday.

A MAINSTAY: Junior Chris Jensen got his first start of the year April 15 against UC Santa Barbara and has not been out of the lineup since then. After going 2-for-4 in that start, he has maintained a blistering pace, batting .447 with three home runs, second most on the team. Jensen originally started as a designated hitter for an injured Hector Ambriz, but with Ambriz back in the lineup, UCLA coach John Savage has put Jensen in right field to ensure his bat stays in the lineup. Jensen redshirted last year and in his first two playing years in Westwood, he started 35 games and hit .281.

COMEBACK WIN: UCLA’s 4-2 win over Cal on Sunday was not just the Bruins’ first win in Pac-10 play. It was also their first win this season when trailing after seven innings. Before Mike Metzger’s game-winning single, the Bruins had been 0-29 when trailing after seven innings. From the seventh inning on, the Bruins have scored just 40 runs this year, 49 fewer than their opponents.

Alma Mater Sports