Thursday, March 28, 2024

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsBruinwalkClassifieds

Baseball prepares lineup for upcoming game against Cal State Fullerton

Redshirt junior catcher Daniel Rosica has been splitting time behind the plate with sophomore Will McInerny and redshirt freshman Ty Haselman in recent weeks. Rosica made two starts against USC this weekend, reaching base six times. (Isabelle Roy/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Sam Connon

April 24, 2018 12:53 a.m.

The Bruins are riding a seven-game winning streak on the weekends, but their Tuesday problem remains unsolved.

No. 9 UCLA baseball (25-10, 14-4 Pac-12) will host Cal State Fullerton (19-19, 12-8 Big West) after dropping its last two Tuesday games – 8-1 to UC Irvine and 5-2 to Long Beach State. The Bruins started the season 4-0 on Tuesdays, including a 12-2 road win over Fullerton on Feb. 27.

Coach John Savage changed the lineup drastically a few weeks ago, after UCLA lost a weekend series to Cal. Sophomore left fielder Jeremy Ydens was moved up to the leadoff spot, freshman shortstop Kevin Kendall pushed sophomore Ryan Kreidler to third and junior center fielder Daniel Amaral was knocked down to the six hole.

Since then, the Bruins’ lineup has remained relatively constant, and Savage said that at this point in the season, it’s time to start solidifying his team.

“There’s no experimenting going on,” Savage said. “We talk about April, May and June being the go-to times in college baseball, so you’ve got to have matchups, you’ve got to have depth, you’ve got to have certain reasons why you do things.”

The Bruins’ three catchers – redshirt junior Daniel Rosica, sophomore Will McInerny and redshirt freshman Ty Haselman – have combined for a .542 on-base percentage over UCLA’s last seven games. The three backstops have been splitting time this season, with Rosica and McInerny getting the bulk of the starts, but Savage said he still doesn’t want to lock in an everyday catcher.

“Rosica is playing really good,” Savage said. “But at the end of the day, we know we have three good catchers, there’s plenty of depth there.”

Rosica started two of the three games against USC over the weekend, finishing the series 3-for-6 with three walks and 3 RBIs. The redshirt junior said he has enjoyed getting more time behind the plate, and that it has helped him develop his chemistry with the pitching staff.

“It’s easier to stay connected with the pitchers,” Rosica said. “It’s nice to get a little rhythm going.”

UCLA will also most likely be without its normal Tuesday starting pitcher, sophomore right-hander Ryan Garcia, who threw 93 pitches two days ago against USC. Savage and the medical staff also shut down junior right-hander Jon Olsen and redshirt sophomore right-hander Kyle Molnar after they returned from Utah last week. Garcia pitched with seven runs of support Sunday, but he said whoever takes the mound Tuesday needs to produce, regardless of depth and offensive support.

“Pitching is pitching, and it doesn’t really matter what the setting is,” Garcia said. “Just be yourself and just go after them.”

UCLA has not announced its starter for the upcoming game.

The Bruins and Titans get started at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Sam Connon | Alumnus
Connon joined the Bruin as a freshman in 2017 and contributed until he graduated in 2021. He was the Sports editor for the 2019-2020 academic year, an assistant Sports editor for the 2018-2019 academic year and spent time on the football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, men's soccer, cross country, men's golf and women's golf beats, while also contributing movie reviews for Arts & Entertainment.
Connon joined the Bruin as a freshman in 2017 and contributed until he graduated in 2021. He was the Sports editor for the 2019-2020 academic year, an assistant Sports editor for the 2018-2019 academic year and spent time on the football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, men's soccer, cross country, men's golf and women's golf beats, while also contributing movie reviews for Arts & Entertainment.
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts