Bruins Prep for Road Midweek at LMU

No. 22 UCLA (27-15) at Loyola Marymout (16-26)
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Page Stadium at LMU)
Stream: WCC Network
Audio: UCLA Lean Player
Audio Play-by-Play Talent: Tim Wilhelm
Live Stats

No. 22 UCLA Heads to Westchester for Midweek at LMU    
After two consecutive weeks without a Tuesday game, the Bruins (27-15) get back to their midweek slate with a 6:00 p.m. contest at LMU (16-26) on Tuesday night. LMU will be playing its first game since May 2. Tuesday night's game will be streamed live by LMU, available via WCCsports.com/watch. Tim Wilhelm will also be on hand for a live audio broadcast through UCLA.leanplayer.com, and fans can also follow along with live stats at UCLAlivestats.com and live updates from the team Twitter account, @UCLABaseball. 

UCLA Outdoor Home Sporting Events Open to Team Guests    
In compliance with state and county public health guidance, UCLA outdoor home sporting events will be open to a limited number of team guests. Seating at these events will be limited in order to comply with updated state public health guidance for higher education and college athletics that has been adopted by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as well as city, county and campus COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Tickets will not be available to the general public, and non-ticketed guests should not come to the competition venues. UCLA's campus remains closed to the general public.

Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, May 11 - 6:00 p.m. PT 
UCLA - Jake Brooks, RHP, Fr. (0-0, 6.97 ERA)
LMU - Will Grimm, LHP, Fr. (1-1, 14.73 ERA)

The Week In Review    
UCLA is coming off a series win on the road at Washington State, rallying from a Friday night loss to claim the next two in the three-game set in Pullman. 

• The Bruins dropped the series opener 5-2, going ahead on a two-run homer by JonJon Vaughns in the fifth but allowing five unanswered runs the rest of the way. Zach Pettway drew a tough-luck loss, taking a one-hitter into the sixth and ultimately allowing just three hits over six innings. Adrian Chaidez followed with a dominant seventh, striking out the side in order (all swinging). 
• UCLA rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to claim a series-evening 7-6 win on Saturday. Trailing by two heading into the ninth, UCLA got the first two batters of the frame into scoring position on a HBP, single, and wild pitch. Pat Caulfield cashed in both those runners by rolling a grounder up the middle to tie the game, and came in himself to plate the go-ahead and game-winning run on a Kyle Cuellar flare later in the inning. The Bruins nearly doubled up the Cougars in the hit column (15-8) and saw JT Schwartz reach base in all six of his plate appearances (two singles, two walks, two HBPs). 
• The Bruins slugged their way to a 16-7 win on Sunday, clinching the series. The two teams traded blows early on - UCLA scored three in the top of the first, saw WSU respond with a four-spot to go ahead, then both teams plated a single run in the second - but the Bruins outscored the hosts 12-2 from the third inning on. Schwartz led the offense with a career-high four hits, and five separate Bruins had multiple hits. The Bruin bullpen combined to toss 4 2/3 innings without an earned run against, keeping the WSU bats at bay after the early back-and-forth. 
• Last weekend marked UCLA's third straight series win over Washington State
• Michael Townsend received the decision in all three games, the second time a Bruin pitcher has received three straight decisions over the last month (Max Rajcic; Apr. 24-30). 

Midweek Notes    
UCLA is 19-1 in midweeks since the start of the 2019 season, including an unbeaten 11-0 mark in 2019 and six wins in as many games this season. UCLA has defeated LMU, Cal State Fullerton, and Pepperdine in midweek action this year, outscoring the opposition 55-17 in those games. The Bruins are outhitting their opponents .333 to .173 in midweeks this season, and have a 2.33 ERA (opponents: 7.02). Five UCLA regulars are hitting over .300 in midweeks including Kevin Kendall (.455), Michael Curialle (.375), JT Schwartz (.353), and Matt McLain (.333) while seven of the 11 pitchers the Bruins have used in midweek games have yet to yield an earned run. 

The All-Time Series Against LMU    
UCLA owns a 60-48-1 record all-time against Loyola Marymount, including a 16-6 mark under head coach John Savage and three wins in as many games in 2021. This is the fourth consecutive season that the Bruins and Lions have matched up, and the second time in the last three years that the teams will face off at least four times (2019, 2021). 

This Season Against LMU    
The Bruins are 3-0 this season against LMU, with all previous games being played at Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA has won the three previous matchups by an aggregate score of 30-10. Key contributors this season have included Emanuel Dean (4-6, four RBIs), Kevin Kendall (7-12, five runs), and Pat Caulfield (3-7, three runs). On the mound, eight of the 11 pitchers UCLA has used against LMU have yet to allow an earned run, though Sean Mullen (8.1 IP) is the only Bruin hurler to have thrown more than three innings against the Lions so far this year. 

In This Week's Polls    
UCLA appeared in four of five major national polls on Monday, ranking as high as No. 17 (Collegiate Baseball) and remaining top-25 in the polls for the NCBWA (No. 19), USA TODAY Coaches Poll (No. 22), and D1Baseball (No. 23).